The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-01-16
SONGS AND SONG WRITING.
A suBJEUT PULL or INTERBsT TO
LOVERS OF MUSIC.
Words and Music Must be Fitted
Songs in Ancient and Modern
Times-StOry of n Noted SOng'

Times-StOry Of Noted song.
At meeting of the New York His
torical society, Chief-Justice DAILY read
an interesting paper on "Songs and
Song writing" A song he defined as a
piece of verse fit to be sung. Rhythm, he
said, was not only not required, but was
often a positive obstruction. What was
necessary was that the words should be
fitted to the music. Great poets were
seldom good song writers, and great
composers were seldom able to create
song music. In the one cace Shakes
peare and in the other Handel was an eX
ception. As an illustration. the lecturer
cited the song of the lady in the tower
in "Quentin Durward.n This he pro-
nounced an exquisite piece of verse, but
Bishop, the great English composer,
found it impossible to set it to music, al
though Miss Stevens, afterward Countess
of Essex, desired to sing it. The great
bulk of the songs which had become popu-
lar were he continued, written to music al
ready existing Burns and Moore's
melodies were notable examples. Moore
was accustomed to play an old air on his
piano over and over until he became
thoroughly imbued with its spirit, and
then the music suggested the subject.
In this way the noise and confusion
original with the music of ''The Carnival
of Venice was changed into the quiet
of ROW gently here my gondolier.
''Scots wha' haen was once the slogan,
''Hay tatty, tatty," to which the Scotch
fought at Bannockburn The measured
beat of the drum is still recognizable in
lof, oifi IL os
tunes, funeral walls or religious chants.
Some combined two of these characters
tics. "Garryowen, one of the most roll
hcksome of airs, when played slowly be-
came one of the saddest.
One of the earliest known Egyptian
hieroglyphics had the exact form of
guitar. These people had seventeen diff
ferent musical instruments, including all
the three divisions viz, of conclusion.
wind and string. A harp was discovered
in Theban tomb, with catgut strings,
which, on Seing touch after a silence of
over 5000 years, yielded the old familiar
sound. Champoillon translated from
Egyptian hieroglyphics a song sung
by the ancient thrashers. Two
similar songs have been unearthed
from the cuneiform writings of the Baby
lonians Except as to the Greeks, who
had as many songs as we have, and the
early Christians, who had devotional SONG,
oil evidence as to the subsequent exist
ence of popular song is merely fragmen-
tary until the end of the tenth century,
when the troubadours made their appear
ance. These were lyric poets who carried
their art to perfection that has never
been surpassed. Their songs were near
ly all love songs, but were artificial com
positions above the comprehension of the
people. They were an aristocratic class,
and included kings in their number.
The troubadour had, as q rule, two at
tendants, one to compose the music and
the other to sing the song They were
succeeded by the Trouvers of Northern
France, who wrote for the people at first
but afterward became exclusive, like the
Others Contemporary with these were
the Minnesingers, of Germany, the
purest and sweetest singers of all. Later
on hourished the Jougleurs, minstrels,
harpers, or gleemen, as they were vari-
Ously called, and comprising two classes.
One sang songs in combination with Jug
CLING and the exhibition of animals on
the village green. The other went from
castle to castle and always met with q
willing reception and liberal reward
Their wandering life afforded them al
the conditions necessary to express the
joys and sorrows TALL degrees of society
Such songs as the German folk-songs
could only originate in countries having
national music. To Italy the world owes
most of the improvements that have been
made IN both vocal and instrumental
music. Yet as a people the Italian;
never had any national music. 1t wa:
only peoples with a diversified country
and diversified climate who produced
songs with character. The nature of the
musical instruments CT the people also
produced an impression on its songs.
Incidentally, the lecturer said that the
first information as to the use of the violir
showed that it was an English instru
ment; that Yankee Doodle was orig
inally an old sword dance, and that the
Portuguese and Spanish Jews used az
part of their seryice-that known as tn,
blessing of the priests-a chant suns
5000 years ago He narrated the histor,
of ELLEN Aroon,n better known a
robin Adair,n which he claimed to b,
one of the finest love songs in existence
Eileen Aroon, which signifies 3" swee
pearl ofmy heart, was written by one Car
roll O'Daly, an Ivish knight O'Daly loveC
the daughter of neighboring chieftain
Ellen Cameron, who returned his love
Her parents were opposed to the match
and, ODaly having gone abroad, mad
her believe him untrue, and secured he
consent to marriage with his rival
O'Daly returned on the day before III
wedding. On learning what was abou
TO take place he composed the song, and
next day, disguised as harper sang
TO the bride. In response TO the ques
tion, "Wilt thou go or stay with me
Eileen Aroon ~ she contrived to whispe
that she would go, and they fled togethe
and were married.