Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-24
FriVOlitv OF Music.

Nearly every home boasts OF musical In
without one or more members who know how
to sing or play. The children OF today can
hardly believe that the spinnet, or even its
and costly luxury; nor can the average church
goer understand how 1t came to pass that the
church organ was once characterized as an
"ungOdly kiSt o. Whistles
The greater part Of instrumental or vocal
music at home Is OF course to be commended
for Its general good, rather than its evidences
music Is hardly to be found among thousand;
for most persons must make music servant
rather than master: They play or sing be-
cause they find in such an exercise recreation
for themselves and others; Or, in some cases,
because they have discovered that music devel-
0peS the character and broadens the personal
When to this is added the very material de-
ferce which music throws around the home
circle, as against the street Or the place OF
great growth of attention to Its exercise in this
country of generally difTused comfort.
1t is somewhat surprising, however, to note
select their music, and the lackadatslcal and un-
me hodical way in which they study it,or rather
Ego over" IT. Loose as are the ordinary habits
OF choosing reading. those which prevail In the
selection of music are still looser Not ma nv
persons read bad or frivilouS BOOK or pao.r
more than once, but music, quite as bad or silly,
i studied over AMI over again. The music col
lected by family of high intelligence and ir-
reproachable morals is too often a miscellane
Gus pile, brought together without thought and
retained without reason. Part OF it Is an Inherit
ance from parent, aunt, older brother or sister;
part OF it was brought by some not very critical
mGs,c-teaC her, who said 1t was "real pretty"
part OF 1t ref CTS tie tilSel and glitter of the
LATEST Ia fashionable comic ore-a; and good share
OF the remainder consists OF the sentimental al
or chrymose ballads of the day. The res ID lie
OF RI ally Coca music Is seldom any too large
even here the classes Of music We have sne1-
toned are curtailed in size. HAPPY is that mu-
sician who dces not need to apologize for half
his stock Of pieces.
Poor music gradually belittles the character
or the musician and his habitual hearers; for it
Is rendered over and over again. until it's every
note is household possession. II it be i'm
moral In words or music, its lesson will remain
10 memory for life time. If it be mere musical
frippery, its feebleness will tncapacitate the
mind for nobler things. After all, there is
nearly as much danger in musical imbecility as
Il musical immortality. It is not exactly pleas
ant to hear In parlor italian words which, If
given IN English, would not be tolerated for an
Instant; but, fortunately, much musical know
ledge OF Italian does not extend beyond the
pronunciation Of the vOWelS and the letter &c.
But Whe1 jingles crowd out chorals, and jig
tunes drive symphonies out OF mind, the 'nu-
sician is well on the road to artistic 1nanition.
dime novel diet i5 no better In music than In
lite allure, and 1t enfeebles the mind quite as
surely and speedily. There is more food for
mind and soul in one of Beethoven's simplest
since Beethoven died.
1t should not be supposed that good music is
always ldfI muSlC. MANY OF Cne tunes that are
sung In families that maintain the good old Gus
tom OF a Sunday. evening sing are compo-
s1tiOnS of the highest class, full Of nutrition
and u lifelong delight. Neither is good music
neces sarily old music; some OF the finest of
briefer contributions to sacred harmony have
been produced within a quarter OF century
All that 4, ed be asked OF any singer or player
is 10 avoid injurious morals and intellectual
idfocy. Let your pieces be first innocent and
then helpful; II they deserve these adject1ves it
makes but little difference when or by whom
nrOV ton FI,ov,x
a pure and profitable tune, play or sing it when
asked, without the simper1ng hesitation which
implies that you are ashamed Of your piece and
your Interpretation of 1t. Nowhere is the union
OF simplicity and purity more beautiful than In
music at home; and nowhere are artidcalty and
Wickedness more hateful. II serpents are lurk-
Ing In tie music rack, turn them out at once.
and let the birds Of heaven take their place
[.Sunday School Times.