The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-03-13
THE ALL-INCLUDING MUSIC.

THE ALL-INCLUDING MUSIC.
Not long ago, at Philharmonic Concert
the fortunate New Workers who were presen
listened to the tones of superb violincello
a master piece Of the famous maker Antonio
Stradivarius. A bit of criticism in the paper
next morning has been haunting me. After
dwelling upon the exquisitely faulsless out
lines, harmony of proportion, and elegance
of aspect, in the rare old Cremons, the writer
said: "If it we're possible to set market
value on a rarity which is never in the mar
ket, its value, We suppose, would be sci
somewhere in the thousands. It's pure, round
even and luscious tone was distinguished
above all of the rest of the instruments in
the orchestra, although it was not unduly
loud, and was not forced in the playing
There we're passages in the Volkmann Ser
enade' where nine 'cellos we're struck togeth.
er, and yet this marvellous instrument, ab.
sorbing the other eight, was the only one
heard"
Turning from the paper to favorite book,
refreshed my memory concerning Stradi-
varius. He was born in 1914, lived ninety.
two years, and beginning as pupil Of Nico.
las Amati, the first great maker of violins,
he devoted his whole life, from childhood to
his last year, to thought, study and toll upon
the instrument of his love. Ever he kept
improving upon his former successes, finish
ing every portion of his work SO carefully
that to-day when opened for repairs no detail
is found to have been slighted. "The little
blocks, and ribs, and slips of wood to strength
en- the sides are all without scratch or
shadow Of roughness, the weight and size of
each are carefully adjusted to the proportion
of the whole. and as great poets are said to
spend days over line, so StradivariuS may
well have spent as long over the size, posi-
tion, and 6aish of many a tiny block
But it was not to write about violins that
l took my pen, sweet and entrancing as they
are, voicing when played by a good artist
every note in the gamut of human joy, suf-
fering, triumph and despa;r, nor yet of grand
old SsradiVarius toiling in his Workshop in
dusty Cremona two hundred years ago. The
musical criticism sugg ,sted to me thought
of the allincluding melody which love to
Christ makes when it takes possession of q
SOUL Our spiritual natures are many-chord-
ed. We are moved by diverse motives
Often We would be puzzled to tell the exact
genesis of some act of daily life, and We
might have cause to blush for the mingling
of the ignoble with the good in which it began,
But once let thorough surrender of life,
heart, mind and powers be made to the Mas.
ter, and the one sweet, true, tender, hallowed
tone of love straightway absorbs every other.
Itis the Cremona violincello in the orchestra
1t swallows up all the lesser strains, and
blends them into its own silvery harmony
And then the desolate days of sorrow are
gladdened as by angel notes floating down
from the sky, and through the stormy days
of the battle with care and trouble there
sound encouraging hymns, and life, no longer
hopeless, is set to heavenly music.
That is one thought 1t does not seem
very fanciful or far-fetched, and it is corrob
Grated by the experience of thousands, who
know how the love of Christ in the soul be-
comes it's dominant passion. But there is
another which it is worth our while to ex
anime. There were other violin makers il
Italy and France at the time Stradivariu
lived and wrought. Their works attained t.
no such reputation as his. Their instrument
have not been boarded by enthusiastic lovers
nor left as legaces, nor played on by famous
performers, and regarded as beyond price
Why? They were not, as he, faithful in th'
least things, neglecting nothing, caring fol
what did not chow, and putting into every
days labor their very best effort, skill, ant
knowledge. Whatever be our work, whether
it seem to be some great thing or it lie among
the transient and apparently trivial affairs @
daily duty, let it be done with fidelity. Coz
sees it, and humble though it be, it has it
part in His economy. Tne one thing which
we do, or the many, we should do as under
His eye. We shall pass away, but the effec
at least of our work is to last when we ar,
dust Christian LntelEgencsr.