Excerpt from The Literature of National MusicThe present essay is republished from The Musical Times (london: Novello, Ewer and where it appeared in the monthly numbers from July, 1878, to March, 1879. Some additions have been made in order to render it convenient as a book of reference.I shall not apologise for its republication, since it is not likely to interest any but intelligent inquirers. These, I doubt not, are convinced that, just as painters, sculptors, and architects find it useful and highly interesting to pursue the investigations of their respective arts among nations in different stages of civilisation, musicians also should take a wider view of their art than they are too apt to do.The greatest obstacle to information which the student of National Music is likely to encounter, is the difficulty in gaining access to many Of the publications bearing on the subject. Every European country ought to pos sess in its National Library not only all the collections of its own national songs and tunes, but also those Of other countries. Most of these publications are out of print, and there is no probability, except in some rare instances, of their being republished. They become daily more scarce, and soon it will be impossible to collect them together, even for a National Library.

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