Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-28
Music
When the six days Of Gods creative work
WAS ended

When The six days Of Gods creative work
was ended,
"Tle morning stars sang together
And all The Sous Of God shouted for JOY"
Never since that hour, has the air ceased to Vi
brato with the charming tones Of vocal melody,
The solemn march Of our lace begun with
music, and in lbs onward progression through
thousands Of years, lytbm and song have at
tended the swelling tide of It's multiplied mill
ions
The acknowledged power Of music, every
where, over the passions Of men, is one Of the
strongest evidences that civilization, refinement
and taste are its Legitimate concomitants.
The classic age Of neurological invention in.
vested m1so with the most wonderful attributes
Of sup2t-buman power When Opheus swept
Apolos golden Tyre streams stopped in their
courses; Wild boasts, laying aside their leroci-
~, listened, rocks and trees leapel IRON their
places and mountains, even, which stretched
Ter broad bases from sea to sea-. and hcayad
their dark sides upward towards heaven, felt its
dynamic force and moved from their fouuda-
tons. When he de- cendcd into hell, the wheel
Of lxlon stopped the stone Of Sysiphus ceased
to roll, and lantalus paused in bis perpetual
endeayors 70 queuch his eternal thirst Allour
observations and experiences 60 to prove how
positive and universal is the influence of music
upon the human heart
How the bosom hcayes with warike emotions
whe;' the car drinks in the martial notes Of the
loud and sbril sounding clarion How the
soul is stirred IN the deeper sympathies of our
social nature, at the sound of the yol, the rich
chords oil the harp, the charming symphonies
of the piano, the bird-like notes OF the sweet
toned flute, and above all, the nimitable har.
mony Of vocal melodies
To develop and cultivate desirable musical
taste, having for its basis a thorough knowledge
OF science, requires patience and perseverance,
both in its study and practice. How little do
American musicians know of the severe exer-
cises and constant application, for years. to
which German professors of music subject their
pupils How long viii it take me ?" said a
young man, to a German Professor, :" to be-
come an accomplished performer on the violin r.
4" Twelve hours day, for twenty years, was
the sober and well considered reply. Hayden
practieed twelve hours day for twenty years,
IN order to become the performer that he was.
Look at the contrast. Two lessons per week
and two hours per day of practice for two or
three years, is all that our boarding school
misses deem necessary in order to become prof.
clients in instrumental and vocal music, and
even to become teachers of the science
In this country, as in Germany, music In all
its branches should be incorporated into and
legalized as part of our system of education,
thus giving our youth ample opportunities for
developing their musical taients, and cu.tlvating
musical taste. And it is an encouraging fea
turc of our times that music is being intro.
ducod and taught in our schools, not only those
of higher grade, but even in our common
schools both of the city and country,
This is a beginning in the right direction
for in youth, when the vital forces of the body
and mind are becoming developed and strength
enod, the vocal organs most easily assume the
proper shape, and readily adapt themselves tc
the demands of a correct and effective yoealiM
ton. 50, too, in the skillful performance o
instrumental music, the muscular training O
the fingers and arms can be far better secured
at this period when the muscles are most plia
ble and readily adjust themselves to their spec
ial Office in rapid and difficult movements Il
youth, then, we claim that all should, at least
be taught to sing, and with very, rery few e1
ceptions II can learn to sing.
Physic@ 1eiects and uatura! inability t.
learn, for want of musical faculty, are rar
indeed, and on critical examination, will b