The Eurhythmics of Jaques-Dalcroze

The Eurhythmics of
Jaques-Dalcroze, by

Emile Jaques-Dalcroze This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere
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Title: The Eurhythmics of Jaques-Dalcroze
Author: Emile Jaques-Dalcroze
Contributor: M. E. Sadler
Release Date: June 1, 2007 [EBook #21653]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: Emile Jaques-Dalcroze.]
THE EURHYTHMICS OF JAQUES-DALCROZE
Introduction by Professor M. E. Sadler, LL.D. (Columbia)
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds
BOSTON SMALL MAYNARD AND COMPANY 1915
Printed in Great Britain

{Pas gar ho bios tou anthropou eurythmias te kai euarmostias deitai.}
"Rhythmische Gymnastik" is the name by which the Dalcroze method
is known in Germany, but whether or not the German words are
adequate, their literal translation into English certainly gives too narrow
an idea of the scope of the system to any one unacquainted with it.
Rhythmical "gymnastics," in the natural meaning of the word, is a part
of the Dalcroze training, and a not unimportant part, but it is only one
application of a much wider principle; and accordingly, where the term
occurs in the following pages, it must be understood simply as denoting
a particular mode of physical drill. But for the principle itself and the
total method embodying it, another name is needed, and the term
"Eurhythmics" has been here coined for the purpose. The originality of
the Dalcroze method, the fact that it is a discovery, gives it a right to a
name of its own: it is because it is in a sense also the rediscovery of an
old secret that a name has been chosen of such plain reference and
derivation. Plato, in the words quoted above, has said that the whole of
a man's life stands in need of a right rhythm: and it is natural to see
some kinship between this Platonic attitude and the claim of Dalcroze
that his discovery is not a mere refinement of dancing, nor an improved

method of music-teaching, but a principle that must have effect upon
every part of life.
JOHN W. HARVEY.
CONTENTS
NOTE: John W. Harvey 5
THE EDUCATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HELLERAU: Prof. M. E.
Sadler 11
RHYTHM AS A FACTOR IN EDUCATION:} Emile Jaques-Dalcroze
15 FROM LECTURES AND ADDRESSES: } Translated by P. & E.
Ingham 26
THE METHOD: GROWTH AND PRACTICE: Percy B. Ingham 31
LESSONS AT HELLERAU: Ethel Ingham 48
LIFE AT HELLERAU: Ethel Ingham 55
THE VALUE OF EURHYTHMICS TO ART: M. T. H. Sadler. 60
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Emile Jaques-Dalcroze Frontispiece
The College: from the East Facing page 15
The College: Front 26
The College: General View from the South-East 31
Beating 4/4 } Movements for the Semibreve} Between pages 36 and 37
Beating 5/4 in Canon without Expression} Beating 5/4 in Canon with
Expression } " " 44 " 45

The Air Bath } The College: Entrance Hall} " " 48 " 49
The College: Classrooms} The College: Interiors } " " 52 " 53
The Hostel: Interiors Facing page 55
The Hostel: General View page 57
Dresden from Hellerau Facing page 59
A Plastic Exercise " " 60
A Plastic Exercise " " 64

THE EDUCATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF HELLERAU
At Hellerau two things make an ineffaceable impression upon the
mind--the exquisite beauty of movement, of gesture and of grouping
seen in the exercises; and the nearness of a great force, fundamental to
the arts and expressing itself in the rhythm to which they attain.
Jaques-Dalcroze has re-opened a door which has long been closed. He
has rediscovered one of the secrets of Greek education.
A hundred years ago Wilhelm von Humboldt endeavoured to make
Greek ideals the paramount influence in the higher schools of Germany.
He and a group of friends had long felt indignant at the utilitarianism
and shallowness of the work of the schools. In Greek literature, Greek
philosophy and Greek art would be found a means of kindling new life
in education and of giving it the power of building up strong and
independent personalities. When there came to Humboldt the
unexpected opportunity of reforming the secondary schools of Prussia,
he so remodelled the course of study as to secure for Greek thought and
letters a place which, if not central and determinative, would at least
bring the élite of the younger generation in some measure under their
influence. But his administrative orders failed to