The New York herald., 1878-03-15
THE LECTURE SEASON.

DIR. g. AUSTEN PEARCE ON MODERN MUSIC
Dr. S. Austen Psarce delivered the third lecture In
his course at Stelnway Hall, tho subject be-
ing "Modern Music" Modern music Is new art,
said the lecturer Now, why is modern music new
art9 you ask In ths-that the anciens.had not dis
covered the chord which nature produces IL waa
only toward the close OF tho Middle Ages that har-
mony was discovered. Modern music may be called
a new art because 1t employs counterpoinI am led
TO believe counterpont discovered IN this way:
On one occasion man was singing one oi the Roman
Church hymns aud another singing ribald songs,
and in this way tho singing OF two songs occasionally
mado harmony and had good effect, and some OF
these effects were reduced to paper. But when II
lost its rythmic motion II necessary to keep time
and tho plan OF measuring time was introduced.
These Two tunes being opposed, but having certain
lnings in mon, were called counterpoint. Modern
MUSIC has degenera very much because people are
not satisfied whon they 10 not hear tune and
an accompaniment The divisions Of music are not
USED by modern composers excep, Ia music ike
oratorios. In the twelfth century was dscove(ed
that music had good effect sung 10 hiths but con-
secusive fths soon discovered TO be cnmusical
Not only IS counterpoint wonder, out the art OF
writing IN usic Is a wonder. That an may be able to
sit down the quiet OF his room ana write SYM
phony without touching an instrument with such &C.
curacy that sent 10 an orchestra and paycd
without Il flaw being discovered Is marvellous, the
whole being written down IRON the composers brain.
The lecturer thinks that the greatest symphonic
writer Beethoven, and tins alter careful COM
parison aud study. His works are written ana con-
crived Tor the orchestra He writes as II he were
writing Tor q chorus ofNnstruments. Tho orchestral
has really become drama, inc lee
turer spoke OF Wagner and cited the "Faust" over
ture as u remarkable specimen OF psychoogic music
AT close of the lecture Dr. Pearce played iugue
Tic next and last lecture in this course will
livered ON to morrow morning.
RIGHT REV. BISHOP spALpING ON 'cHRIsTIAN
HERoIsM."
Right Row. Bshop Spalding, OF Peoria, ILL., lectured
last evening at ST. Michaels Church, ThIrtysecond
street and Ninth avenue on "Christian Heroism."
Though, he said our blessed Lord and Saviour
came among the meekcst and often
times tho weakest. l find in HIM all the eie-
ments of strength When He nils HIS Church
how He appeals to that idea of strength, son
this rock will build my church. and the gates OF hell
will not prevail against III He died to triumph over
death, that he might close the nsatate power
oil the grave and givo hope to the hearts oil men,
l lind nothing In our Church more admirable than
It's strength From this tact alone men must SEQ That
the CATHOLIC Church Is a supernatural work. AS all
virtue is tho result OF struggle ana battle ." no man
be strong who does not understand the herosm OF
Christian In the historic contests oil Inc church we
have ONE idea OF bravery necessary TO sustain IL
The world cianored against II and sought 70 crush
IL in It's first Ieeble efforts TO Itself. The
priests might BE- thrown into prison, torn by Wild
boasts, but the Word oil COO could not be stined The
Roman Empire had conc uered the world and struck
the nations DO xnthat Empire. whose victories we're
written in boodyct out OF that 800 years oil death
grappIe with the Church hnaliy the cross o Christ
see med painted the ana bazoned in the Roman
capital The enemies oil thocl have seen relie
walking by her side to caiumniate her, revie her,
but she has marched through the ages anu lost
sight Of the pgmies VINO proicssed religion OF yes
tcrday, janbcred IN some incomprenensble jargon
The mass OF the Protestant people have fallen from
Luther Gavin ana Knox, and how many Anglicans
there VINO follow tho teachings OF she early athersr
Protssants CT lao nineteenth century nothing like
those OF the sixteen IA century the caIker oil sccp
tcsn doubt working AZ the heart oil the frotes'
tant religion.