NOTATION OF GESTURE.Asa tree without leaves, so is recitation without gesture; but the most beautiful pieces are sometimes marred and burlesqued by awkward or inappropriate action. Our object, therefore, in presenting our system of notation is not to teach gesture—for that can only be acquired from a teacher—but to guide the reciter in a general way.Gestures are divided, 1st, into front, oblique, lateral and backward; and2d, into descending, horizontal and ascending; for instance, if the hand is thrown to thefront, it must take a position on a level with the shoulder, or above, or below, which three divisions constitute the positions last named. The same applies to theoblique, which lies anywhere between the front and the lateral; to thelateral, which, as its name indicates, lies to the side; and to thebackward. These positions are designated by the following letters: D. F., descending front; D. O., descending oblique; D. L., descending lateral; D. B., descending backward; H. F., horizontal front; H. O., horizontal oblique; H. L., horizontal lateral; H. B., horizontal backward; A. F., ascending front; A. O., ascending oblique; A. L., ascending lateral; A. B., ascending backward.bplaced before the above combinations indicates that both hands are used. When not mentioned to the contrary, thesupinehand, palm upwards, is used. P. representspronehand, or palm downward; V.vertical, or palm outward; Ind.,index fingeras in pointing. This must be carefully distinguished fromP. Ind., which meansProne Indexor the back of the hand upward, and finger pointing. Cl., expressesclinchedhand orfist. Par. expresses both arms parallel towards right or left. If a gesture is illustrative and cannot be expressed by any of the above letters, it will be calledspecialand designated bySp.All gestures of a bold, descriptive, or emphatic character should be made from the shoulder, whilst unimportant or conversational gestures proceed from the elbow. Good taste dictates that a few gestures, properly made, are preferable to a large number crudely constructed.Let your gestures be so modulated, and so accord with the sentiment, that they may seem a part of a perfect whole.FRANCES L. PEIRCE.
Asa tree without leaves, so is recitation without gesture; but the most beautiful pieces are sometimes marred and burlesqued by awkward or inappropriate action. Our object, therefore, in presenting our system of notation is not to teach gesture—for that can only be acquired from a teacher—but to guide the reciter in a general way.
Gestures are divided, 1st, into front, oblique, lateral and backward; and2d, into descending, horizontal and ascending; for instance, if the hand is thrown to thefront, it must take a position on a level with the shoulder, or above, or below, which three divisions constitute the positions last named. The same applies to theoblique, which lies anywhere between the front and the lateral; to thelateral, which, as its name indicates, lies to the side; and to thebackward. These positions are designated by the following letters: D. F., descending front; D. O., descending oblique; D. L., descending lateral; D. B., descending backward; H. F., horizontal front; H. O., horizontal oblique; H. L., horizontal lateral; H. B., horizontal backward; A. F., ascending front; A. O., ascending oblique; A. L., ascending lateral; A. B., ascending backward.bplaced before the above combinations indicates that both hands are used. When not mentioned to the contrary, thesupinehand, palm upwards, is used. P. representspronehand, or palm downward; V.vertical, or palm outward; Ind.,index fingeras in pointing. This must be carefully distinguished fromP. Ind., which meansProne Indexor the back of the hand upward, and finger pointing. Cl., expressesclinchedhand orfist. Par. expresses both arms parallel towards right or left. If a gesture is illustrative and cannot be expressed by any of the above letters, it will be calledspecialand designated bySp.All gestures of a bold, descriptive, or emphatic character should be made from the shoulder, whilst unimportant or conversational gestures proceed from the elbow. Good taste dictates that a few gestures, properly made, are preferable to a large number crudely constructed.
Let your gestures be so modulated, and so accord with the sentiment, that they may seem a part of a perfect whole.
FRANCES L. PEIRCE.