Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-05-24
Ig 1 From the National Magazine.
Musicals History and influence.

Of time when music first stepped forth
upon the earth 10 snchain tho senses Of
man with the magic OF her voice.
| In tho early chapters oflhe Bible men.
ton is made ofJubal the son Of Lamech
who played upon the Tyre. Josephus
remarks, "ha, from JubaI probably came
Jobcl, the trumpet Of Jobel or Jubilee.
that large and loul instrument used in
rroclaiming liberty at the year Of jubi.
lee.' One of the oldest songs oI which
we have record, is that of Miriam, sung
after the passage of the Red Sea.
As we proceed with Sacred History,
we find, among the Hebrews, the char.
acter Of poet and singer united the same
individual. David also not only wrote
psalms and hymns, but made inslru.
mcnts Of music. His viol had ten stlin $
played wit. bow. The psaItery had
Twelve musical notes, and was played
upon by the fingers. The cymbals were
broad and large instruments made Of
brass. With these he taught the Le.
vites to perform hymns to God on the
Sabbnth.day and other festivals. At
the captivity ofthe two t'ibes, the sing.
ers and musicians were carried to Baby.
lon, where they out.ived their imprison.
ment, and returned again with their in.
strumcnts. Jesus, the sou Of Sirach,
says, "that at the temple, in his days
the singers sang praises with their vol.
ces, which with great variety Of sounds
was there male swce, melody" In the
gorgeous professions of that period,
whether sacred or warlike, no doubt
music took prominent part; in every
age she has spoken language to be
understood by the most barbarous and
uncultivated tribes, as we'll Us the most
civilized.
In the tomb of Osmandus near Thebcs
musical instruments have BEEN found,
and it has been concluded tina: the
Egyptians were acquainted with their
use Two thousand years before the birth
Of Christ. Py,hagoras is said to have
learned music from al Egyptian priest.
From the provinces OF Asia Minor the
different modes Of Greek music are de.
rivel. Neurological accounts invaria.
bly, give the praise to Greece, where the
art was first acquired and perfected.
Iii supposed, and very naturally,
that music owes its origin to some lone
shepherd, who while watching his flock
upon the hills initiated with reed the
various changes Of the wind rs i, swept
with a whispering sound through the
thick forests, or howled down the deep
ravines, awakening with its call the
tone If the torrents, and desola,ny the
valleys with its strength
One can fancy the unutterablc solace
such discovery would be to the soil
tary man, and how the dear ones Of his
homestead would gather around him
when the sheep were in the fold, and
listen with strange delight to the melo.
ly issuing from his Pa 'dean pipe.
A beautiful myth lies concealed in
the story Of Orphcus, who by his divine
music moved mountains and stones 10
follow him wherever he played. Losing
by death his beloved Eurydce, he fol.
lowe. her to the entrance ofhades, when
striking cord in unison with his feel.
ings, It's tenderness softened the stern
divinities to compassion, and the thrill.
ling tones Of his voice suspended all the
tormcnts of fTartarus, and Orpheus gain.
cd consent TO conduct Eurydice back
10 earth on one condition. but in a
narrow part Of the gloomy road only
one could proceed at time, and though
he still played on to lull the jealous lu.
ries, he looked back % see if his bclov.
ell was safe, and lost her forever, from
his want Of faith in the power which had
carried him through so many dangers.
In the Jus,iniar palace is statute Of
Apollo, holding in one hand knife and
a human skin in the other; and there is
also preserved, by the noble family Of
the Marchesa Sofia. Of Modena, pain,
ting Of Corrcggio's, representing the pun.
ishment Of Marsyas, to whom is attrbu.
ted the invention Of the flute. This ia.
nous musician as classic history informs
US, resided at CeIene city Of Phry.
gia, of which it was once the capital,
and as he was one day wandering alone
near lake, he observed a musical in.
s,rumcnt, which bore some resemblance
to pipe floating upon the water; this
was flute which had been manu(actu.
red by Minerva out Of the lcg.bone Of
a stag which she had one day fun in
her path, and on which she played with
great skill. 1t is the quality Of hard
substances to sink in the water, but this
particular bone may have acquired its
floating property from the divine touch
Of the Goddess Of Wisdom, who after
all the pleasure this flute had given her,
threw it away in disgust. when she saw
by reflection in CLASSY pool, the fright.
full grimaces she made, and the manner
her mouth was distorted when playing.
As she flung it from her hand she de.
nounced miserable death on the per.
son who should find it, and this was
verified in the fac Of the unfortunate
Marsyas, who siezed the instrument with
much avidity. and drew forth such me.
lodious sounds in his hymns dedicated
to the immortal gods, tina, the Fauns.
Satyrs. Nymphs, and Dryads followed
him wherever he went. Puaed up with
vanity at,he praises which assailed him
On every hand. he at last challenged
Apollo to competition, who accepted