Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-07-28
From the Valley Democrat.
SACRED MUSIC.

The "HGrmOnia SacrG, a compilation Of Genuine
Church Music, comprising great variety Of
metres harmOnized for three uOices, Whh a CO.
pious Erplcation OF the Principles Of Vocal Mu-
sic, BY Joseph Funk and Sons Mountain Val
ley, near HdrrisOnburg, Va. 1851.
l love sometimes to seek communion
with the hidden sources of our purer en-
joyments. find myself insensibly with
drawn from the agitations of common life,
and placed in the centre of most won.
dcrful system of organs, and powers, and
elements. behold the utmost grandeur
Of conception wrought out into the purest
simplicity of action /; the most powerful ex-
hibition of effects resulting from the most
delicate adaptation of causes. Oh it
would be ungrateful indeed, not to ascribe
all this mcrcitul adaptation to an unfath-
omable Infinite Wisdom whose benevo-
lence is as boundless as his OmnipOtcnce !!
We move and breathe in the midst of an
atmosphere which might have been so
constituted as to crush our delicate organs
in moments of violent agitation. But IN
stead, we have discovered that 1t may be
thrown into vibrations of inconceivabl-
rapidity, and that very rapidity be rem
dered source of our most exquisite de-
light. 1t is known that the undulating
current which diffiuses itself upon our or
gans Of hearing, must perform at least
thirty vibrations i'll second, before the
soul can become conscious OF that sweet
intonation to which we give the name OF
melody and that this same current mag
perform thirty thousand seven hundred
and twenty vibrations, and still be so far
from torturing the auditory nerve, as TO
fill the soul with a transport ot delightful
emotion. Suppose feeling of gladness
rises in the bosom of my friend, He is
impelled to utter it in song. The little
column of air which passes through the
gloHis is instantly thrown into a vlbratory
motion, say fifteen thousand pulsations in
a second which would express the tone oi
G major. Tissues from Iris lips and rush
es through the air at the rate of eleven
hundred and forty-two feet in second
1t enters the labyrinth, and trembles upon
the lyra of my ear. Instantly my owr
soul kindles into the very glow which
gladdened moment before the bosom oi
my friend. Yet this is but the beginning
of the miracle. A hundred voices may
all utter their joy at once. They may
set the air in tumult Of vibrations, ex
pressed by all Ine SeoneITlcal IaCtOS VI
thirds, fifthS, and octaves, from thirty Il
thirty thousand. Still my ear will not bC
panied. The transports of my soul viii
be increased a hundred fold. will fee
the inspiration of harmony. The Twelfth
and the seventeenth which are not ute
, red and if l keep very calm and comPo
sed, aud suffer not my attention TO be ea
crossed by the real tones that crowd uPol
me, will hear the soft, remote, unearth
, ly harmon;es, which cannot be uttered b.
: human voice, but which the overhowine
goodness of God has indissolubly blended
, with the grosser tones granted to man.
i And still this is not ALL Those deli
, cious but eyanescent melodies, this har
5 monious complication of melodies, may al
f be recorded ;and the eye being caused t,
r perform the Office of the ear, may lool
. over the artificial staff, and catch the pro
found emotions which first rose IN In,
: bosom of Beethoven or of Handel.
7 have now before me acollection of Sacrre'
Music. The excellent and pious compile