The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-09-12
TIE JUBILEE.
Mr.. Frank JOhnStOn'S Address.


...,nre fiji the history of this State, and
reIj. am unusual one for this section oil
r.r-rion. 1t is one of peculiar interest as
..f-frrs the subject Of music to the tore
..-,aaa. in both a useful and popular way.
Tho idea Of a musical Reunion or conven-
..., If th. brass bands OF the State waz
.-..aated by Dr. Patton, gentleman OF
.t.- State. Of musical tastes and accomplish
....--. and who j. an enthusiastic lover OF
.r,art:aud 10 was suggested by him in the
lane r.a, # would be the beginning of an
Intercourse between the lovers of music, and
.,ar..ur amateur musicians, that would be
mutually pleasant and improving. From
.r.- know of DR.. Patton 1 can as sure YOU
as- he has prepared Tor you a delightful
.r-.rtsinmeut. As | heard a charming
l..,r remark to-day, che is the hero of the
....-ian." And ! add, that any one who
..-. us out OF our old beaten track OF every
ageommou places, Is public benefactor.
sincerely express the hope that this occa-
sion IS the promise Of many future musical
reunions, ia Mississippi, tfit does not con-
tain IRE suggestion Of a musical association
ofa permaueut character.
Ia this age OF rapid transits, Of railways
-.,rraph- aud daily press, ideas are inter
changed. adopted. rejected or modified with
r.gllitv that would have amazed The
eighteenth century, ana thus remote parts
oiacom-ry are brought into close thinking
contact.
Bin. with all these facilities of communi-
cation, with the advantages of telegraphs
and rapid mails and daily papers, there is
vet another mode of conveying thought and
iptereHangiug sentiments that has all the
attractions of personal acquaintance and
fceto face greeting. Gentlemen, you might
have managed musical jubilee, and a COM
petition for prizes, by means Of a telephone
and q central committee at Jackson, and
played away at each other by telegraph
q. Mr.. GaIbreath plays chess, but that would
not have been as satisfactory; and l am quite
sure it would have been far less pleasant
,blu the mode you have adopted.
Thus in humanity is the instinct that
brings persons together who have com
mon bond, that comes from identity OF in
tergst-, or the sympathy of tastes and senti-
mcuts And from this principle, the conven-
tiuus of politicians, farmers, religiOnists,
SCIENTISTS. in a word, the different commu-
mites or classes of individuals. They thus
mutually give and receive IDEAS, and work
out mutual improvement. Old principles
are discarded, new ones are examined, re-
jgc5ei or accepted, in close personal contact,
by thi, aggregation Of minds, and thus the
world moves onward towards perfection.
How natural the reflection comes to us,
thal the aggregate of the knowledge of this
age Of progress comes from tie great army
oGthiukcgs and explorers, dead and living
and how small is the share thae the individ-
han contributes to the grand total. I'm
rrovemcnt comes from this comparison, and
interchange Of thoughts
What j. the art and science of music,
for 10 is both an art and science, as it eX-
lists at present, but the denominations of
the patient study and work of centuries
From the time when harmony was I'M
known, and rythmical sounds, with but a
slight approach to melody, charmed the old
Egyptian or the ancient Greeks, down to the
announcement of Wa2ner's great principles
of the musical drama, what an i'm mense
stride towards perfection has been made,
il indeed perfection has not been aetu-
ally reached. As Wagner said of one OF
Beethoven's symphonies, d" The last sym
phony has been written and the domain
of instrumental music exhausted"
I'm America what change in public
taste has taken place in the last few decades
From New England a century ago, when a
score less mournfuI than Old Hundred had
no admirers or friends, [and when, am in :
cliueI TO think. the Innocent art of whist
ling was uulawful) to the musical Boston
of the present day, that could not get
enough of Mr.. Gilmore and his columbiad
accompaniaments, what an improvement
has taken place So of New York, where
Mr. Thomas has extended the work of
the Philharmonic Society, from its small
circle, to the great masses, and has edu-
Gated the average New Yorker into an
appreciation of fine music, and an ac-
quaintance with the masters of the art
In New Orleans, of all the cities OF the
Union, there is probably more VIDE
spread musical taste and culture. The
opera, has there found, on this continent, its
true home. and has for years been one OF
demonstrations of that cultivated and refined
community.
Generally in the Northern States, and also
in the South in her cities and towns, there
il progress ana improvement. Vicksburg
has had her amateur opera, creditable TO her
taste ana culture. There is quite a larg
musical circle in Greenyille, and in many
other towns in the State. And there is in
jackson a general appreciation of good
music. This is all very encouraging. There
must be great deal of good in person who
loves fac music; and an accomplished mu-
stefan must almost necessarily be refined in
his tastes and sentiments. The whole ten
deucv of good music is elevating and refin-
Ing to the individual, and mediately and Ill
timately to the community.
Coufucius said, one hundred years before
Plato, when music was IN its infancy, (and
perhaps no more musical in that age than
Infancy condescends to be in thls), that II
we would know the government of people
and their tastes and manners, examine
well the music they practise. And there
Is much wisdom in the observation. As
the poetry and general literature of people
Indicate to the philosophical historian
their tastes, manners and civilization, so
does their music, in great manner, indi-
cate the national character. Improvement
in music marks higher and an advancing
civilization in a people. China has not inn
proved its music since the day when Con-
fucus uttered the philosophical words have
quoted. Nor has China improved in other
arts or sciences. I5 is nation absolutely
in repoSe; and its music is in the same
state of rest The same may be said of the
other Monaghan races. and of the Asiatic
nations, who are making no progress; their
music rests in all its primitive sim plicity.
On the other hand, from the discords of
the Saxons, to the music of the modern
English, the transition is as great, as tn at
between the rhymes of the Druids and the
exquisite poetry of Tennyson and Rosetti.
- I1av,a fAranarv I RI