The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-17
FOLK SONGS.
The Fidelity with Which They Reflect Ma
ture In All Its Aspects.

Wherever the folk song has lived
and flonrishcd amid its pure air of ma
ture, it has emanated from the life of
the people, aud has grown out OF the
{ soil they trod. Hebrews, Greeks, and
Romans all had these songs, and while
tho women lightsned their domestic
| pursuits with their country melodies,
the men tempered the war weapon TO
their tune, and ploued many furrow
to their rhythm. With tho migration
| of tho German races. when music as an
art still was not, tho tedium of many
n monotony must have been dallied
away to soft folk theme. or an on
slaught in battle intensified by some
more soul-stirring glcc, which the
warrior Teuton learned as he lived.
His existence was under little roof
save the broad canopy of heaven,
while his land song glittcred with ra-
pine and onslaught. Rarely with him
was it attained in peaceful vein-moro
often mpelling its singers to ax and
oar with Il dash which made Roman
enemies fear them as fierce and cum
ming foes, with the sea for a war
school, and their friend in the storm.
1t is strains such as thcse-strains
which have never sprung out of re-
venge for spilled blood. and out of the
many varied and nobler mood that
human nature is capable of, which arc
thrilled into life at period when
there was no art to shape and mold
them by, and which constitute the
folk song, says writer IN CdSseLHs
Magazine. Such emanations sprang
direct from the heart, and arc as
psychologically true as music can ba-
the shepherd tending his flock, the
soldier on the march, tho fisherman
mending his nets. the sewer casting
his seed, tho reaper joyous with his
sickle - these chanted a something
long before the age OF scientific art;
and what such was, is more or less
faithfully depicted in every country's
national melodies and folk songs.
The characteristic of the folk song is
tho fidelity with which it reflects ma
turs in its human and natural aspects.
Unadorned by art, it speaks the simple
minds of tho people wherever it is met,
and as we muse over its tones we not
only picture the gayly-sttired peasan-
try who sang it, but tho very air of the
country to which it is peculiar seems
to- follow it and to pervade the sur
roundings where it is now performed.
1t tells of the existence and everyday
life Of the workers-indoor and out
door-whosc character alone remains
to us ~ We see it reflected in these
faithful mirrors OF times dear to the
lover of his country.
We possess tho words of sixth
century song of the time of Clothair III.
(5S4-628), and those of Roland's song
of Charlema.ne's time, but the music
of these and the love songs which
were forbidden, and those which were
not; of the mournful songs of ''la-
mentS" which were chauted at night
over the graves Of the dead-these and
tho peans of praise and battle-song,
oil had music which is lost forever, be-
cause the light of tho age led one 10
note il down. 1t is certain, however,
that the early folk song had a distinct
" popular rhythm and tlow. In many
cases, too, it would be quaint and
original even fantastic and comical--as
when used to accompany the evolu-
tions in outdoor lifo and enjoyment.
1t was essentially the peoples posses
sion, and in an age when city life was
not, and when outdoor sport and
pleasure was all that men lived for, the
music would be attuned to the circum-
stance. There was agricultural pur-
suit, and frequent war and plundering
excursions, but rude enjoyment and
revelry occupied tho people largely.
Sports and fairs and outdoor gather
ings were frcquent-to which it was
not uncommon To beseech the atten-
dance of the knight of the shire from
whom the vassals held their lief OF
tenure. The music was measured to
the wants.