The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-27

RUN BY w. II. NEAVE.

widely and well known among cur
North Carolina musicians, particularly
among the Bands-men, we feel sure
the following extract from his recent
article in the Boston 1Oun-dnd- Coun-
TN will be read with interest
Eighteen years ago | had the pleas
ure Of hearing a lecture by an eminent
Phtenologist, DIR. Mott, in which,
when be had musicians con Docket
he accorded to them only the necessary
r, uuisi,es of time and tune he took
the position that great musicians were,
generally, wide across the forehead,
but low on top, showing thus, Ia, &c
imagination, bur low r, asoDing pow
ers. He took Julien, and Jenny Lind
as examples in proof. Alth ugh gen.
orally correct and often profoundly
erudite on every other topic, | saw at
ouce that he fully shared in the POI u
lar delusion about musicians. and utter
ignorance of the nature Of music aud
its cultures; and no wonder, when we
remember hat the chief of the hterdtl
of his day, DR.. johnson, pronounced
it '.unintelie ctual and frivolous" l
c.lled on DR.. Mott next morning End
lr ceeded, san ceremOnle, t. show
him the eyre glouS erro he bad made in
his est mate OF, and the in Justice and ] n
jury he was dong to mus C and musl-
Gins. He acknowledged (of cOurse)
that he not ouly knew nothing OF the
nature of music as an art, but that he
could not distinguish one common
melody, Or tune, from another, al
though endowed wi h good time,-
could dance,-was fond of music and
had often attended operas and fine
concerts
asked him if, in listening The
''Finale Of Don Giovanni" rendered
by a hundred (only) of vocal and in-
strumental performers, cole cted for
their excellence, from all parts of the
musical world, whether be could think
that so many different and lndepen-
dent parts could blend so faultlessly
together, into one grand electrif, ing
ia brio of harmony, swelling and dl-
minishing; retarding ard accle rating,
and the split of one pervadlng du,-
by the sole agencies of time, tune ard
imagination, and without the aid of
the most severely disciplined reason
ing powers? He said that, not know
ing anything of music further than as
a mere liste ner, he bad never thought
Of that Just SO. If it was not for
the custom of listening to and enjoy
irg, without rejecting, we would
never cease wondering by what potent
spell such a large number OF individ-
uals can be brought to observe the
strictest time and expression; every
n to know precisely when t" lin
iu,-when to be silent. Now all jOiu
in one combined effort; non they all
give place to one instrument, which
rlvets our attention to a fascinating
and delicate solo /; after which a singer
interposes the soft and heavenly
sounds of the human voice, and
again, as if impatient of restraint and
eager TO part clpate, the whole cho US
and full orchestra bust forth in a
magnificent harmony, sitting cur
whole frame in vibration.
MOI 8. Julien VAS not susceptible of
the mental training requisite TO enable
him to sustain a art in a theatre or
chestra even for 10 this he signally
failed and 1esorted TO ball room pl Y
ing. A forwards, his vived imagina-
ton, keen and just conc ptiOns OF in
s'rumental fec s and trickery, arde t
owe Of music, cOsms pohtan feelings,
liberal miu d, large heart, energs, tact
and cOusumate assurance, all combin-
ed to make him the first great p pit
lar musical generalissimO aid cater.r.
The lopular taste for music was then
ar a low etb, and great praise Is due
him for ~elevating it. Jel ny Lind was
gifted with a vOice OF unsurpassed
Compass. power sud swee ness. but
her ut. llect was of very mediocre
calibre. She was lat home" only in
~ LILO orl ballad n,hDDl 80
mus G. With every advantage Of mas
,.ls and models, she h leles> ly fai ed
as a prima donna labor ousIy and by
rote she struggled through hat light
ouu ra the Daughter # the Regiment
and a few other similar roles. as the
only return for the care and expense
that had been lavi>hed on her by en-
thusia> tic and sauguiue p irons. She
then ct permanently i to her lie, it'll
mate sth re-a ballad singer, where
II mathemati a or T. as u ing pow err
of MINI is mt edful, but only the ma
tuydI gifts of fine vO e feel ng and
,xDlesslon. She had OF the inSpira- |
ton evt to create a simple nelody j;
10, had Julien, though his name is |
over ma, y liz ht, fugitive pieces, II ey
were the paid-f r emana ion from
others. Both however were or at
mus clans with the II ulti ude, bec.u~e
easily understo d by them, and in
this way tn, y. ami others like them
IF, ct much good, willie at the same
time he most ii fish and fastidous
musicians we're delighted W til thei, |
ents !; + a true musician
AID ma 80 W m n of taste enjoys the
simplest music, if inspired .nu pare,
Isl AS he picure ard bon UiUaht dis
,.;n not To consider well of the most
u~upretentiOns esculent.
The leatt important performer In a
.ood orchestra. has ,und rg.p a C uiSe
.f many years :lai ing, 8 u"y a q