The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-12-07

haS SNcH Us, III many OF ms spoons, true
picture Of the Scottish bard, and that he
was no Mythical character we have album
dant proof. DR.. johnson tells us, in his
Journey to the Western Isles of Scot.
land" of certain chieftain who kept an
ancient minstrel. 1t was with the words
of a Scottish song, thatsthe Earl of Cardi-
:, gan led the six hundred into "the valley
Of DEATH" Since that celebrated day, on
which English valor was commemorated
by slaughter terrible TO dwell upon,
''Annie Laurie" has become to the Eng.
lsh a national anthem.
''They sang of love, and not of fame
Forgot was Britan's glory,
Each heart recalled different name,
But all sung, "Annie Laurie.
Beyond the darkening ocean burned
The bloody sunsets embers
While the crimson valleys learned
How English love remembers.
And Irish Morals eyes are dim,
For singer dumb, and CORY,
And English Mary mourns for him,
Who sang of "Annie Laurie"
1t was no ignoble task that the poet
Moore performed for his "Erin," when
be furnished suitable words for those beau.
tiful Irish melodies, which for ages had
been degraded by coarse, vulgar words.
1t is noticeable, how true the spirit of
a country's music. is to the characteristics
of its people. We can tell at once from
the compositions of the great masters of
music, their "tatberland." The meta
physical German, ever seeking to step
over that impossible barrier erected by
God between the visible and invisible
worlds has found an expression for his
unhappy conceits in the music of such
men Gs "'Meyerbecr" and "Karl Won
Weber, Their school of music is as dis
tinct from that of other nations, as the
writings Of Goethe are from those of
Washington Irving. 1t shows the want
of sound reason and healthy ideas, that
the majority of the present generation
prefer German literature and music to that
-of any other nation. Those "insubstar-
tial pagcahts" of the metaphysician, those
graspings after the illusive conceits of
speculative philosophy, these are embodied
in German literature and music, and men
are found to prefer this unsatistying rub
bish to what would give real, substantial
satisfaction. When | read the writings
of these Germans and listen to their be-
wildering music, feel as if [ were hurled
down precipicos, and taking fearful
glimpses into frightful caverns-no echo
of faith and hope is heard. German mu-
sic is like tho creed of the Infdel.
Now listen to Italian music. How
different! 1t speaks of Tranquil climcs,
Of noonlit nights, of placid waters =
Yes, ever and anon, too, is heard the mar
tial note, that tells that the spirit of a
brave and gallant people still animates,
however fcebly, their. degenerate SOUS
Hence "Donizetti," "Bellini," "Verdi,"
and a host of others delight US by their
music. Their heights and depths are lit
up with the light of the blessed three,
"taith, hope, and charity" When lis
tening to their operas, fancy revols amid
green fields and babbling brooks-bright
skies where, if "a cloud floats, it is only
that it may dissolve into gentle showers,
The moan of humanity is inseparabe from
true art. Indeed, the highest efforts of
art arc generally exercised upon those
subjects that move to tears rather than
laug liter. And so in music, when truly
beautiful, there is an qnder-current OF
sadness. al Penseroso" has beauties NO
less striking than al Allcgro' Some
people may be found who prefer "Lopo-
relli's" gay song to anything else in the
opera of "Don Giovanni" but to Inc that
solemn and beautiful air which is played
as the curtain rolls up for the last scene
is to be preferred above every other
To one acquainted with tho story, i,
sounds like requiem over all earthly
hope.
There arc people who, not satisfied
with ooudemniug the sins enumerated in
the Bible, seek to render every harmless
amusement horrible crime. They have
even gone so far as to include in Mci,
catect'soss, the opera. Do these cavaliers
know that "Solomon's Song" is by many
supposed to be the first opera? The
stage was first used exclusively Tor reli
gious music, and ia the early ages of th.
opera, priests as well as laily encouraged
it by prccept and exampl. How good
music and acting can harm, it puzzles m,
to discover. Insanity and gloom always
mark the footsteps OF the fanatic. lii
makes of his own opinions ga craven i'm
age,' and refuses to believe any man il
the heavenward track who does not be-
como blind bigot with him. Must hi
be told that the best tunes of every de
nomination of Christians were compose c
by "Hadel," and were originally parts
of his now forgotten operas :?
have not timo to discuss the ballad
No true lover of music I'll slight these