Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-05-09

whose last breath went forth with his song,) and
do not our spirits rush forward to join in the
rapturous chorus of angels, "Glory to God in the
Highest!" Let us listen to the solemn thunder
ing Of that inspiration of Heaven, Handels
"Hallelujah Chorus as its halieluiahs re-echo
through the infinitude of space, and do we not
indeed feel in awe and trembling that ''the Lord
God omnipotent reignethl" pr to that sublime
aria from the same oratario-'1 know that my
Redeemer liveth," and do not our hearts swell
with the hope that when che shall stand at-the
latter day upon the EARTH we may be with him
in Joy? In simple psalmody, what effect can ex-
coed in grandeur that of Old Hundred, Dundee,
or St. Thomas sung to the Doxologyl 1t seems
as if the ransomed on earth were answering the
congratulations of the 'multtude of angels a
round the throne, and our thoughts fly forward
to that happy time when we may join in their
never-ending song even the DEAD are to be q
reused from their slumber Of ages by music,
awful though it be-by the voice of the archan-
gel and the trump Of God"
Music may be dragged in to aid by its fasc-
nation an evil object; but we deny, strongly and
uncompromisingly deny, that in itself it has ever
been productive of evil. Who ever heard of a
villain plotting scheme Of robbery or murder
with true Cremona under his chin? Or breath
ing vengeance against an enemy into good Ger
man flute? And as everybody knows even how
to perform on that popular instrument, the Jews
harp, happy equanimity ofmind is absolutely
necessary. As to singing in passion is entire
y out of the question We perfectly agree with
Shakespeare when he saith
"The man that hath no music in himself
Is fit for treasons stratagems, and spoils."
Consequently, vice versa,
The man that hath music in himself,
Is not fit, &c. &c.
Gentle bard of Avon, we bow to thy illuminated
judgement ...... ...a...... E..l .
Every country has its national music, sacred
to ITSELF but what melodies can ever equal in pa
thos the Irish or Scottish? You may thrill the
soul of an Irishman with "Cramachree," or "Sa-
vourna Deelish until his heart throbs and his
eyes moisten and you may thrill his sOles with
"Patrick's Day." or paddy Carey" until the
pounding of his brogues on the clay floor of his
cabin may be heard nearly mile off---Play
"Bruces Address" on the bagpiPe for the gallan
and true-harted Scot, and in Imagination he viii
buckle on his claymore, and to the sound of hi
native pibroch, march forward to vengeance OF
the invading Southerner. The enterprisinl
Yankee, too, can whistle far more proftabl,
thoughts to the tune of yankee Doodle" thar
to any other Murmer in the ear of the Swiss
his Grams de Vacnes," and in inconsistencies hi
will think of his mountain cot. Breathe gent
air of Italy to one of her wandering sons, and h
will yearn for the sunny skies and vine-clad hill
of his boyhood.-Waken up the memory of tn
aged with "Auld Lang-Syne," or "John Ander
son" and they will wander back to the tim
, when,
t eve twa haze run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowanS fine"
What but music can awaken the remembrance
) of past happinessl What but music the solac
of the sailor mid his dreary night-watches? O
what more the delight Of the infant than nurse
ry-rhyme, or cradle-hymnl
five walk into the fields and woods on
bright day, what joyous spirit is abroad! the spi
it of harmony. We hear it in the rustling
:, the lofty elms-we hear it in the signing of til
sad willow-we hear it in the roaring of the ca
aract-we hear it in the mu rmuring of the rvl
let-we hear it in the thunder Of the heavens :
we hear it in the whispering Of the zephyr-w
y hear it in the singing of the birds-from the lar
:. that springs to meet the sun in its coming,
% the lonely nightingale that MARBLES her song
. the moon-even in the hum Of the busy bee an
the chirp of the fre-sde cricket, we hear the
1t all prevailing spirit.
= OF the stirring airs handed down to us, throug
succeeding ages may we not fancy(and it is
J. pleasure so to fancy)t that they were the partir
\ strains of many son of song? And we ha'
n many examples in modern times of the last wol
d of genius being the best; it seems so natural
is concentrate the whole powers of expiring natur
l. in last grand effort, that may be worthy to lea
to posterity. A person familiar with the mus
of Norma can scarcely fail to recognize in son
y of its plaintive and passionate strains the deaf
warblings of its young author. The very idea
is using such airs for any common purpose, as Il
NJ quadriles, is a species ofwickedness and pervel
N ed Judgement such as no person of soul cou
think Of For quadriIles, forsooth' If Peep
will follow the intellectual pursuit of capering,
which their little four-iooted brethren of Il
forest far excel them, why must they force mus
to lend its countenance to their sinful waste
timel Might not drum serve to beat the measu
on? Few dancers will notice the difference; b
to desecrate in such manner the gems Of Be
at thoven Mozart and others of similar class,
of grievous, objectionable. Let us hope the til
ID is near at hand when music will be appreciat
le as it ought to be, and treated as guest of
of mortal mould The melodies Of the olden tim
"a both sacred and chamber, should be familiariz
ts to the rising generation, and the present race
en- negro airs, with their low and demoralizng dc
til grels, banished from all society. This, in itse
,ss is an object Of far more Importance than mig
he be at first supposed. "a A wise man Of old 81