The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1876-03-03
MUSIC.


ton owes its origin to the fact that
the writer is lover of music. Per.
haps there is nothing peculiar in this
for ne that has an appreciation Of
the beautiful, must admire it in all
its varied forms. He will yield to
its influence whether he sees il in
the mountain or the riIl, the cloud
or the sea, whether it presents itself
in Natures vast cathedral or 10 the
architecture of some splendid pile
reared by human hands. And, by
the way, you know that Madame
DeStaeI calls beautiful architecture
frozen music. 1t is pretty fancy
but apprehend rather inapt. For
music is never frozen; it is full of
life, and heat. and power. Its ex-
eculion may be cold, and indeed
chilling to the hearer A friend of
the writer's who happened to be in
Vienna some years ago heard the
great pianist Listz and in speaking
of the impression made upon him by
the performance, he said it was like
winters night-clear, cold and
beautiful. Afterwards he heard
Strauss, the author of those wonder
full productions to whose liquid mess>
urps the flying feet of European
maidens have kept time this many
day and he represented himself as
being thrilled to the very heart by
the witchery of the tones evoked as
the master moved his supple bow.
We are apt to go into ecstacies
over the productions Of some devo-
tee of the muses.. We are enraptur-
ed with Shakespeare and Milton
with Burns and Keats and Shelley
with Moore and Byron and Words
worth with Browning and Ingelow
with Bryant and Longfe!Iow; with
Flayne and Timrod, and this is
right. For poetry is the beautiful
EXPIRE ssed in ihytbmical words.
And music--music is the beautiful
expressed in measured tones.
There is a wonderful power in
music. We have all heard of the
Emusic Of the spheres" | take it
that the expression conveys the idea
of the perfect harmony that exists
among them. You know Pythago
ras taught the doctrine of a uni
versal Harmony" Well this was
not merely the dream of an enthu-
siast it was the vision of philos
opher. And the great factor in
bringing this vision into the plane of
reality is music. For its greatest
beauty is the beauty of its beautify>
ing effect. 1t rounds off the rough
corners of character; it smooths the
uneven surfaces of the disposition ;
it wears away the sharp edges of
temper; it stills the tempest in an
angry heart it polishes, it enlight'
ems, it purifies, it re6nes.
Ho! Pegasus, whittier are you
bearing me took up my pen,
Messrs. Editors, with no intention of
writing what has been already set
down, but merely to say that it has
been my good fortune recently to
attend the services held at two
churches in this county, Ebenezer
and MONDAY, and that | was forci-
bly, impressed upon each occasion
with the excellence and beauty of
the singing. 1t was remarkable for
beauty of tone and force of express
ion 1t is an evidence of taste and
culture far beyond that of rural
communities in general, 1t is wor~
thy of rote, therefore have COM
municated the fact.
1t is proper for me to add that
this communication is a voluntary
tribute from a stranger who felt not
only gratifed but edited. And
while | make no claim to be mu
stefan, yet l feel that can form
correct opinion as to the merits of
music, and it affords me pleasure to
bear testimony to the good musical
taste and talent as shown by the
choirs of Ebenezer and MONDAY
Churches. BRIER- PATCH.