Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-16
FOR THE MONITOR.
THE UTILITY OF MUSIC.


,r worse. Thus we have the light,
iippant dance and sentimental music,
which only reaches the emotional ma
.ure. Again there are the sacred,
he sublime and classical compost
ions that have power to stir the in
ner soul. Philosophy tells us that
the difference between noise and mu-
sic is only that between irregular and
regular vibrations of the air, If the
be uniform and sufficiently
rapid, the sound is musical. Music
is an unwritten language, and from
the heart it speaks to US. Music is
living in nature. The air sings; the
limbs and leaves of trees murmur as
they sway in the breeze-all the con-
fused voices of nature when heard at
q distance are said to be in the key
T.
But l am forgetting my subject.
The utility of music may be notice
able in various ways: Music is a
means of culture, and sheds its in
tellectual beams around all who live
in it's presence. Perhaps word in
regard to our musical history, would
be we'll. | have learned that our
musical history, has been peculiar.
The first real and deep interest in
music awakened in Boston was an
interest in the grandest kind Of music.
Handel, then more irresistibly Beeth
oven, were the first to take hold
on thoughtful, earnest controlling
souls. / mention Boston, as it is
musical centre in this country, also a
city where the fine arts flourish, being
called the "Athens of America.
The common theory that the way to
elevate the taste is to begin with
what is light and popular was not
accepted there. | have heard this
reason given, Boston was once sur
rounded by Puritanical Influences,
and the great music came in there
because it was in full affinity with the
best thought stirring earnest souls. "
We are democratic people, a great
mixed people of ali races, and do we
not need music even more than 9TH
ers? | affirm that we do need some
ever-present ever-welcome influence
which will tone down our aggressive
manners, and round off the sharp
corners of our character. What can
so quickly magnetic people into s
harmonious mood as music? Have
we not seen it, felt it? The hard
working millions need expansion
the ennobling experience of joy. W.
must look very much to music to dc
this good work for u.s. we can forge
ourselves in that we blend in joyous
fellowship where we can sing togeth
err, quite as much as when we cal
listen together TO a noble orchestr
interpreting the highest inspiration
of master.
Let us consider first its clvilizin
agency, so far as it may become pan
of the public education. Thin
what the children in our schools al
obtaining through the little voc;
music they learn - elasticity {
of spirit and JOY in harmonious CO
operation. Think what unconsclor
culture, what rejoicing influence II
people of city might breath with tt
common breath of life, from concer
in the open air, from military band
if the programmes were only of
kind to elevate and civilize. So
a we'll trained ear who hears even
thousand instruments played at on
there is no confusion, but each
heard and all blend in harmony.
Great civilizing, educating pow
has music for society at large. Nc
in the first sense of culture, such
we look for in more private and s
: lect society, as it is called, mus
in the salon, does it not create fin
sphere of social sympathy and cot
tesy? Does it not better mould
tone and manners from within tn
, any imitation from without? WI
society upon the whole is quite
sweet, so satisfactory, so refined,
the best musical society, if only b
> thoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn a
- Chopin set the tone? The finer
kind of music heard OF made toge
. er, the better the society. We a
people, it is said, seem some h
to have lacked this art. The u
mans have the sentiment of ant,
. feeling of the beautiful in art, so
,. may learn something from our q
man fellow citizens in regard to
important chapter in the art of Ii
This musical bond of union o
reaches the few; coarspr, mean
% more prosaic natures are not dra
to it. Here congenial spirits meet
.. happy and instructive way; m
- with one object which inspires
4 ciety, whereas so-called society
such. is often aimless, indefinite,
on edifying, and fatiguing for the W
of subject matter. Could we c
-. enter the inner sanctum, the priv
for life of thoroughly musical per
one who lives in music; could
know him in his solitude then
he might know something of the
ioy that is felt in the realms
-, Hottest harmony. If the best of
ont society is musical society, | can
,u further and say that the sweetes