The Opelousas courier., 1889-08-03
The NatuJ al Result of the Manner Of Life
of o People.

The NatuI al Result of the tanners Of Life
of q People.
The national song of a country Is
the natural result of the of
the people; and Just IS these vary in
different nations, 50 does the music
which has grown with these nations
vary in it's p~eculiarities and effects.
Not a country in the world is without
a national music of its own. Rude
and barbarous it may be, but it will
have it's own distinct characteristics,
and it will appeal as no other music
can to the nation or tribe to which it
owes its existence. The power of
national song has indeed been long
recognized and admitted. Linking
itself with objects and events that are
cherished and memorable, it has
become the depository of all
that is interesting to human
feeling or dear to national
pride; and by the innumerable recol-
lections which it involves, united with
its natural power to excite emotion, it
acquires a magic influence owe the
heart which no other art a lay claim
to-" 1t has frequently been minimized
and sneered at as a low form of musical
creation, unworthy of serious atten-
ton, and incapable of elevating the
mind. But surely the place of music
is to please as well as to ennoble; and
it is at least not surprising that the
people should find a special charm in
that which is of their own production
a~ndrhrelongs to themselves. Nature
has always proved stronger than art,
and here we have further evidence of
her superiority. In musical compost
ton the admiration and applause of
the cultured few may be gained for that
which is scientific and abstruse; but it
is only by simple strains that the ordi-
nary nearer is captivated and the finer
feelings of his heart are stirred. The
critical musician may, if he will, decry
the national music of a country as
being devoid of expression and Ecduty,
but the people to whom it belongs will
assuredly feel that it is lacking in
neither of these qualities. For our
part, we think the music of every ma
tion-every civilized nation at f~ast-
has charms which any on Gan appre-
ciate if it's true spirit is entered into
without prejudice; and there Ia GER
tainly something wrong with the heart
of that man who, loving his country,
does not also love his country's music.
If there is any truth at all in
Shakespeare's lines, surely he, of
all men, is ''it for treasons, strata
gems, and spoils; = let no such man
be trusted" The term national mu-
sic" has sometimes been misunder-
stood. 1t is properly applied to "that
aboriginal or self-sown music which is
referable to no individual author, or
fruit of the very soil itself" It desig-
mates any music which, being written
in the peculiar taste of the nation to
which it appertains, appeals more
powerfully than other music to then
feelings Of that nation. It may be
considered rs one of the leading pc.
c~uliarities of national music th It the
names of those who have combined
to make it r seldom known. This
rs the case with every COL
lection of national song with which we
are acquainted. The only satisfactory
theory is that which regards the peo-
pie themselves as the originators of
the national tunes. A national air is
seldom composed" at all, in the ordi-
nary n of the term; it is more fire.
quently extemporized in a moment Of
extraordinary emotion, by some one
having gifts superior to his fellows. II
impressive it is soon taken up by 9TH
ers, further diffused, and thus ira
ditionally preserved. Like an inven-
ton making toward perfection, it may
pass through many hands, he who had
the first idea OF it seldom completing
it, but transmitting it on to others
who enlarged upon it until it reached
it's final state.-Scottish Review.