Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26
How Music became Fashionable,

There is little need TO refer to Swifls bitter
sheer against Handel and Bononcini, or to
the somewhat obsolate jeer of Jean de
Siricx in NJ. Sardou's famous play, against
''fdder," to mark the appreciation in
which professrs of music were held, as well
| in this country as in France, until within
comparatively recent period. Without
| calling upon a centenarlau to bear witness,
abundant testimony can be found as to
The estimation in which musical studies on
the part of man were once held by his
associates. Very early in this country,
While what were called convivial habits were
sowing the seeds OF the govt and rheuma-
lsm, reapcd by the present generation, a
cheerful gentleman like Captain Morris
might be begged to sing, as the far greater
Moore and Hook were after him, TO amuse
The company, and Bacchanalian ditties were
not only roared out, but 'lived-up-to" all
over the country, while music for its own
sake-part music and instrumental music
were little studied, the latter being held in
profound contempt by the sterner sex.
When the novelist wished to put an unsuc-
cessful swain in an especially ridiculous
light he made him play the flute. When
the carlcaturist wished TO do likewise by the
late Prince Cousort he drew him seated on a
music stool and humping the keyboard OF
panoforte. 1t was well TO go to the opera,
as lounge to display new waistcoat fresh
from Paris but 10 fiddle" ones self was
quite out of the question. With young
Indies it was much the same. The practice
of music was one of the arts of display, md
the harp was the instrument best calculated
to exhibit the elegance OF a beautiful figure.
Therefore the harp was fashionable, and
ladies were painted in the act of performing
on It, They could hardly be said to play
upon it, for it if one of the most difficult of
musical instruments, but they twanged an
accompaniment to a song or an ooligato to a
pianoforte piece executed, literally, by a
less graceful sister or an obliging cousin.
There was one lady, Mrs. George Grote,
who played the violonccllo, and she was con-
sidered, at least, eccentric. Many years |
later there was one nobleman who played the |
violin, and no tenn Of contempt was strong |
enough to be used concerning him by his
brother officers in the distinguished regiment
which he joined as preliminary to higher
destines.
All this has been marvelously changed |
and in marvelously short space of time. |
Our girls not only play the piano but the |
violin; many of them very well, and some |
with such enthusiasm that fond mothers |
dread that their darlings may become de-
formed through perpetual clinging to the |
fatal Cremona. To play the piano badly is
now less the rule than the exception, and the
actual scientific knowledge of music has ad-
yanced with wonderful swiftness. No
amount of teaching can make every woman
a musician, as is sometimes tacitly assumed,
any more than it will make every man a
successful painter but it has been so i'm.
proved In method that almost every one can
be taught enough OF music and drawing to
take an intelligent interest. in those arts