The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-09
Fer the National
THE BASS IN MUSIC.

rcr The NauOnal Era.
THE BASS IN MUSIC.
\ theme worthy of that blind old man who
beat his immortal bass-drum beside the "sound
ing sea-" Sharpen we our pencil deep in the
woods, far from discord of human Joy and sor
row. Let the waves of life roll on in the light
of the sun, beating the shores of the woodland
Few and faint the sounds which can penetrate
to this valley: housewives horns, from elf:
land family blowing;" some plowmans voice,
his topmost, skytouching note, yet beguiled of
its impatience, won from its harshness by the
Journey through the tuneful forest a feeble,
far-borne clarion from the barnyard, whereby
hangs tale J or that sound--so engaging when
near, SO pleasing afar-the lowing of cattle ;
these, and distant bell, swinging slow with
solemn roar" shall sweeten solitude with a
sense of society where none intrudes."
This tree once, doubtless, stood upright !;
now it leans across the stream, at an elevation
of not over 80 degrees. likely place, in the
top of it, for my muse, forasmuch as it takes no
wings to get there. Up an inclined plane little
less than forty feet long, | walk, with how much
risk, to this essay on Bass, with what clutch
ings at branches by the way, need not be mar
rated M rapal 5000 u 1890 --------~~. -
4 Surely, o Euterpe, Calliope, or whatever thy
name, this is thy summer residence for these
maple leaves are broad, and this seat is pleasant,
degrees. True, thy eloquent fair face testi6es to
the visit of an occasional musquito /; but mus
quito is unworthy the attention of a poet and
philosopher, and shall not interfere (beyond a
little punctuation) with our great subject--tbe
Bass
| Let us, however, examine our situation a
little, before we begin. The eye, from this
Somewhat elevated position, can trace the brook
up and down its winding channel. How clear
are its waters what pleasing variety in their
movements, gliding from mirror to mirror I
how sweetly they sing their farewell to this for
est Gay, venerable brook Ancient beyond
the oaks on the hills, yet ever young and blthe
as the listening flowers that will crowd thy
course through the meadows
i All along the banks creeps the sad, shade
loving ivy, venturing to the very verge, climb
ing down to drink the waters. Its dark green
mat is set all over with tiny blue flowers, gazing
into the far blue sky, their long-los home! The
laughing sunshine has found out their retreat
Two butterflies, black one and a golden spot
ted one, are wandering, they know not whittier.
What strange sympathy brings all these beau
tiful things together? And from the ivy as
cends the morning hum of bees, mingling
sweetly with the purling of the brook, the
warbling of the birds, the fitful rustling of
leaves on the tops of the trees; and pleasantly
interrupted by the chatter Of red squirrel, who
has this moment taken his position on limb
stretching out over the brook, and seems well
aware of the difference between the sword F"
and the "pen." o Calliope these sounds are
not bass sounds, and fear they are diverting
my mind from the subject.
At last the inspiration comes, borne upon
the air from afar-a solemn, low, imperial
sound, gradually filling up its deep octave, and
expressing in half a minute the sublimity of
thousand years!
First, however it will take only minute to
prove that the beautiful stream below has
brdged itself; let bridge-builders call the prop
osition a paradox, if they choose. My first
position Is, that the stream constructed bridge;
Ia bridge may be constructed, as Is evident,
before that bridge hath been properly located
The argument If, now, a system of circulation
be essential to all the higher forms of vegetable
and animal life; if the circulating fluid in veg
etables be denominated sap; if that sap be
composed mainly of water; il, finally, partic-
ular tree hath imhihed this aqueous constituent
from brook flowing at its base-then il fol-
lows that said particular tree, or perpendicular
bridge hath been constructed by said brook.
And now, if said brook hath undermined one
side Of the base of said tree causing its top to
descend toward the opposite bank, until a com
mum rat cot hotb l.
lished from shore to shore, then said stream
hath located said bridge. But it hath already
been shown that the stream built the bridge !;
therefore, "the beautiful stream below has
bridged ITSELF" quod erat demonstranduW.
Yes, here comes traveller along this great
highway. Sit down on the body of fallen tree
where you will presently you discover that
you, an idler, have obstructed highway of in
dustry. The ant hath her journeys to go
along the hundred roads that lead from her
storehOuse to her harvest-felds, along the great
thOroughfares which run from one ant city to
another. Her territory hath its rivers to cross,
and its mountains to climb, its legislation, its
peace, its war, though not its famine, And
their living network stretches far beyond the
horizon Tell us, O thou mathematician and
builder of London bridges how many miles
per day will all their added journeys make
and what is the weight of all the little loads
carried here and there in one day by all the
ants in the worldY
Wherever man, the idler stops, there the
busy insignificant ant creeps round him, and
goes on, reminding him that call things are
full of labor" from the mite, which creeps
through its mimic forest Of moss, to the stars,
running centurial courses through immensely
And here we are, still seated on the maple. |
Deep shadow has settled on the woods. That
Z profound bass" world; jarring yet comes roll
ing on the air. The treble of the birds has |
given place to it. No rustic comes down from
The high leaves. No hum ascends from the |
deserted ivy. All nature seems listening, all |
Save the darkling brook, whose many sweet