The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-10-18
Music for the Masses.

MUSIC tor the Masses.
DR.. G. S. Robinson, who is an au-
thority in hymnology, discourses thus
concerning the tunes we use:
Is there not good deal of breath un-
necessarily wasted in these disputes
about classic" and popular hymns and
music? Only few weeks ago lady OF
refinement, and mature in the sobriety
of years, cultivated by lifetime of taste.
full and literary associations, expressed
to me her "shock" at hearing religious
words sung to a Scotch melody which
she used to know when a girl. 1 found
out after inquiry that she meant, Lord.
at Thy mercy seat humbly fall )" but
she could not put the name of the tune
upon it till l suggested robin Adair. "
Nor could she tell why she was unwill
ing to have the music turned to such
pious service. Of course, I urged the
splendidly original argument, which
comes into employment so aptly on all
occasions, that the devil ought not to
have all the good music. This only drew
the laughing denial of my assumption
that sCaledonian maids, singing sweetly
to their lovers, were necessary devils be-
cause their tunes were good. She in
sisted that these associations were all
secular.
The conversation ultimately grew so
serious that l determined to play with
her want of research in this learned line.
So l inquired what melodies she would
commend among our Church musical
compositions for use by the common. peo-
pie; they wanted something which would
run along by itself in recognizable air
She carelessl y instanced for an illustrious
example, Gently, Lord, o gently lead
US" set to Greenville." Then I gave in
addition, perhaps, Light of those whose
dreary dwelling" set to " Middleton. -
Of course, she assented, and SO was easily
entangled. Then the fun came in, when
she was pressed to say which associa
ton she preferred for Greenville,"
Days of Absence" or Go tell Aunt
Nancy" or the infdel Rousseau's
Dream ?" And I think she admitted
chat she did not know Middleton" was
simply the old English glee, Fresh and
Strong" Where shall we draw the line?
Many Of US recol!ect the hymn of Kirk
White, Once on the stormy seas l
rode" sung to a melody now in the
books called by the name of Ayrshire. -
My good friend, who had joined in it for
years with real pleasure, was surprised to
discover that " Bonnie Doom" was so de.
votional, after her impulsive fling at
Robin Adair." Some rather amusing
results await elderly people, who in these
degenerate times find so much fault with
modern adaptations, when they are chal-
lenged concerning what they are doing
IN their own behalf in unsophisticated
ways Of borrowing tunes.
Come, We sinners, poor and wretched,' -
sung to Belmont" is only, NV mother
bids me bind my hair" How many be.
levers out Of those who have often run
through the chasing and intriguing
passages Of ancient Cranbrook" with
the words, Grace, tbs charming
sound, know, or want to know, that if
was early adapted from the sea song
Come, all my jolly sailors, all" Is
any one disturbed to be told that " Jesus
l my cross have taken" is sung (" Files
die } to the old song, Go, forget me.
why should sorrow?' Is it necessary to
put over the top Of it, as some do for a
gentle apology, that it was "Mozart's
tavorite air p Even the most refined
Christians in the revivals Of 1882 were
content to sing to Home Sweet Home .
the words, mid scenes Of confusion"
And l know some who think now chat
When 1 can read my title clear" is fan
better to Aud Lang Syne" than TO any
thing else
What difference does it really make
what the people Of God sing, if only the
hymns are good and the tunes help them
on faster toward heaven? Is it necessary
to divide our home-life and our social liz
abruptly from our religious experience
Did anybody ever seriously try to sine
Dykes and Elvey's tunes at the family
altar in the morning before breakfast
Does sedateness always mean melancholy
and is not science a little stately?
Let me say just here, in closing, that
not week ago 1 discovered foot note
in one Of the very earliest of all the
hymn and tune books, published in Utica
In 1887, by one of the princeliest of our
musical men, now gone to his honored
rest. In that unpretending little volume
first appeared "Olivet" and "Tnvita.
| ton And there "ScotIandn s1,o c.,