Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-25
Home Music.

w NAT Is Wrluten IN THIS language needs no
interpreter. A piece Of it sent to airy coun-
try though the persons receiving it under
stood not II word of our language, is under
stood. 1t can be read in all lands. The ac-
cents of this universal language the child
murmurs in his cradle, and affection under
stands his meaning. 1t is the language
which connects this life with another-the
present in which we live with the mysterious
future in which we are to live. French, Ger
man, English Italian, may all perish with
the perishablc breath; music is the only Ian
guage we are assured by Scripture, we shall
use in the state to which we are fastening
The significance of this language lies, not in
thought but in feeling. Its words address
themselves, not to the intellect but to the
heart; its themes are joy and love. May
we not, then, suppose that the supreme love
is addressed in this language? May we not
believe, too, that this language, in its perfec-
ton, will yet prove significant to the intellect
as well as to the heart, and sounds, merely
be the vehicles Of thought as well as emo.
| ton?
In the cultivation of music an education Of
the heart is necessary as well as of the in
tel ect Home music is traught with SO many
tender and sweet memories, and so connects
the present with the past, that it ronews with.
in us the salutary instruction and fond asso
citation of the time to which it takes Us
back
Of all the fine arts, music is the most dem
onstrative. Music is dead till life is breath.
ed into it, for music is breath notes are mere
symbols. For this reason we have thought
that certain songs, successful while the
singer lives, die with him. Have we not al
heard songs rendered SO exquisitely by some
favorite vocalist, that it absolutely pains u.
to hear any one else render them less perfect
ly? This is especially true of the songs o
our loved and lost.
Music is too much cultivated for its dem
onstratve qualities. 1t is pursued objective
ly, that is, with an object, and that object il
selfish. The new style of music is got VI
semingly rather to be seen than heard. w,
most naturally inquire Of friend whethe
he has seen the last concert, rather thai
whether he has heard it.
With the vast majority, music eau only b
one Of the many accomplishments. A grea
musical genius is as rare as any other grea
genius. The parent should cultivate tn
child's musical abilities with view to thei
qualities. 1t is a mere waste of time an
means to attempt to educate TO high art thos
disqualified to make great performers 1
such cases high art is cultivated at the OK
pense Of the spellng-book and English gran
mar. We know II highly respectable lad
in this city, whose daughter graduated a
such a school, and to her astonishmont sh
discovered that she could not write a decor
note of invitation.
The place to test the child's abilities is tn
common school. If there are indications {
great genius, let it becultivatcd accordingly
but not otherwise. The clements of mus
are the same, whether taught by Jenny Linz
or in the primary school; and it is only
foolish waste of money to hire expensiy
teachers, till the childs capacities are asce
tanned.
Home music should be, first, sacred. 1t
the most hallowing influence of the famil
altar The truly humorous, however, is h
no means to be discarded. On the contrar
it should by all means be introduced. Hon
music shonld be vocal, as q general rule
The people appreciate a little good singh
far more than the highest art in playing
let it be simple and pure in thought, al
let there be fitness of words and music
l Our native American melodies always be
off the prize for musical charm upon the co
l tinent.-Richard Storrs Willis.