Journal

This is an advantage, as live music was all that could be enjoyed, without
recordings as we have now. Recall that Branwell learned the flute from
November 1831 to January 1832 when he was 14 and he left a handwritten
music book for the flute.
One afternoon, when Caroline was in low spirits in the Rectory… three
Misses Sykes came to pay a visit... At last tea is over, and music follows
… Caroline arranges the music and Mr Sweeting asks Harriet to play
the piano. He played the flute and the other curates sneer at him in
envy.
the inharmonious rattle of the piano keys, the squeaking and gasping
notes of the flute, the laughter and mirth of her uncle, and Hannah,
and Mary, she could not tell whence originating, for she heard nothing
comic or gleeful in their discourse;’
Here music is used to demonstrate the tactics in manoeuvring between man
and woman. The inharmonious noises produce discomfort for the one who
does not agree with the others concerning what music should be.
Hortense Moore played the guitar and sang.
Hortense, when she was not teaching, or scolding, or cooking, was far
from ill-humoured; it was her custom to relax towards evening, and to
be kind to her young English kinswoman. There was a means, too, of
rendering her delightful, by inducing her to take her guitar and sing and
play; she then became quite good-natured; and as she played with skill,
and had a well toned voice, it was not disagreeable to listen to her;
Here, a lady’s playing the guitar and singing to a happy family circle is
described as popular entertainment. Hortense also played and sang for her
brother Robert. Caroline listened with naïve interest and wished she could
play and sing like her. At home, music has the power to console as well as to
encourage the singer and the listeners.
One evening, Shirley and Caroline were alone in the oak-parlour. ‘Snatches of
sweet ballads, haunted her ear; now and then she sang a stanza’.
Robert Moore comes in and notices that Caroline looks pale and haggard. He
says to her ‘Separation is then quite to estrange us, is it?’ and at once adds
‘…’Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and days o’ lang syne?’’
This song by Robert Burns (1759-96) is quoted twice later. It seems to have
been one of the most favoured songs among the Brontës. It is also quoted in
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