Washington sentinel., 1853-11-12

as well be so much Japanese or Choctaw Yet
the audience appear to be exceedingly delighted
They smile, they eagerly clap their hands, they
wave their pocket-handkerchiefs, they desper-
ately stamp and work themselves into per-
spiration to testify to each other that they APP
preciate the performance. Perhaps they do.
am told that different people have different
ears. Some can only appreciate "simple mel
odies," while others, whose ears have been,
doubtless, assiduously cultivated, take huge
interest and feel real joy in the higher or
more scientific order OF music. The difference
between the two kinds of music referred to may
be illustrated in the performance Of the " "Old
Folks at Home," 30, boys carry me long," the
"Last Rose of Summer the aStar Spangled
Banner and hundred other similar things on
the one hand and the brilliant "cayatinas," the
scintillating "gems from operas" with all sorts
OF nnpronounceable names, the fashionable
"polkas," &c., on the other. I speak sincerely
when | say that there may be, for all know,
just grounds for these claims. There may be,
and doubtless is, a higher plane of musical
taste and appreciation than that Of the mere
songs of the class quoted; it would certainly
not indicate the best taste to desire, for instance
the repetition Of such airs, be they never so
pretty and musical, for whole evening. A va
riety is required and operate selections are fire.
quently very fine in their place. All can say
is, that my ears, however dull and stupid they
may be, are, at all events, not yet long enough
to allow me to stamp, shout and clap my hands
at a song of which | cant understand word
or in the slightest degree appreciate the mel
ody.
The idea applies as well to instrumental as
to vocal music; perhaps more strongly. Stra-
kosch, Jaell, et I'd omhe genus, receive the plaud
e 4Io,,c, IL, II Il
feel one half the emotion they try so extrava-
gantly to express. The whole matter is very
plain and simple and / must cut short these
remarks already too extended. The fact ap-
pears to be that our people profess to like for
eign music better than their own. Now what
is the reason of this preference? Is it because
of the real superiority Of the Italian school Of
music; or, is it merely q manifestation Of that
seryile spirit Of imitation Of .toreiga originals
Just because they are foreign, which prevails
to such a disreputable extent among Ameri
cans? If the true test Of excellence in music
be the feeling produced in the listener, then
will very few Of the Italian compositions bear
any comparison with many of our own Amer
can airs, much less with the sweet, expressive
and meodous music of the Scotch school,
which is, and has been for many years, familiar
to every body. There is too much art and too
little soul in the fashionable music of the day.
have observed that at an evening party, where
the artificial order of music is pertinaciously
adhered to during most of the evening, a chance
hit at some such air as "The Blue Bells Of
Scotland" the "Chie of the West" "Roy's
Wife," or other Scotch melody, will generally
elicit more honest expressions of pleasure than
all the fancy Polkas," the hyfalution "Mazour-
kas," or any Of the stunning combinations of
sound which, under the name Of fashionable
music, is mercilessly pounded, clawed, or scraped
out Of the trembling piano. The reason is, that
the former is true music--the latter artificial
1t is just in this connexion, to say, that Mr..
julien deserves the thanks of the public for his
efforts to popuiarize the best parts Of foreign
music, which, in his hands, become invested
with new and extraordinary beauty.
c. d. L.
WASHINGTON, NoremJer 8, 1853.