Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1889-07-11

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The national song Of \ countrT Is
the natural result OF tie manners OF
the people, and Ist a. these vary in
et1erent nations. 70 dos the music
which has grown with these nations
vary IN it, Pe~culiarities and effects
Not a country In the world = without
a national music Of is oSn- Rude
and barbaroUs il may Dc. but il viii
have - owu distinct characteristics.
and il viii appeal a. 10 other music
can 20 the nation or tribe to which il
owes it, existence The power OF
national song has iuieed been long
recognized and admitted Linking
itself with objects and events that are
cherished and memorable. il has
bccoDe the depository Of al
that Is Interesting % human
fscli4g or dear TO rational
prides and by the i~nguuerahie rezot-
~Iections which Is Involves united With
It's Natural power % excite emotion u
acquires \ magic infleaes over the
heart which no other art n lay claim
to- II has freqaeutlY been ninZIzed
and saeered at a. a low form % musical
creation. unworthy o. serious atteu-
tiou- and Incapable Of elsvasiug the
mind Bot surely the place OF music
Il 20 please a. well a. 10 euE0ble- and
IL Is a. least not surprising that the
people should ind a special charm IN
hat which Is OF their own production
and belongs 90 themselves Nature
has always proved stronger than art.
and here we have further evidence Of
her superiority In musical compost
tion the admiration and applause Of
she cultured few may De gained for that
which - scientific and abstruse; but il
i only by simple strains that the Orii-
nary nearer IL eaptivat-d and the finer
feelings OF his heart are stirred The
critical musician may. II be will decry
the national music Of a country rs
being devoid Of expression aad beauty.
but the people 70 whom Il belongs will
~assuredly feel that Is l. lacking IN
neither OF these qualities. FOr our
part. We think the music OF every IA
tio1-everv civilized nafiO1 AZ least
has charms which any a can apprs-
eiate II is true spirit l. entered into
without prejudice and there Is GER
tainIy something wrOag with the heart
Of that na1 who. loving his country.
does not also love his eoun.ry's music
II there Is any truth NJ al il
S~hake-pears's lines. surely he. Of
all men. i lit foe treasons. strata
gems. and spoils. - let 10 such man
be trusted The term national uu-
sic has sometimes been msuuder-
stood Il Is properly applied TO "tha:
aboriginal or selt-sOwG music which Is
referable 10 no individual author. OF
school Of authors. but seens 70 b the
fruit Of the very soil itself It desig-
mites any music which being writtea
IN the peculiar taste Of the nation %
which It appertAils. appeals more
powerfully than other music 20 the
feelings OF that nation IL may be
considered a one OF the leading pc
culiarities Of national music that the
names OF those VINO have combined
TO make Is are seldom known This
L the cas- with every col
lection OF natiOcaI song with which W.
r acquainted The only satisfactory
theory Is that which regards the PEG
pie themselves a. the ori-inators oI
the national tunes A national air /,
seldom ~conPosed AZ all in the OrdT
nary sense OF the term. il i more fire.
quently extempo-fzetf in \ moment o.
extraordinary emotion. bE soCas ona
having gifts superior 20 his fellows Il
impressive it l. soon taken ~ By 9th
ers. further dfFu7ed. and thus ira
dItiocaIly preserved Like an inveu-
tiOG making toward PERFECTION II may
pass through many h1als he who had
the first idea of It seldom completing
It. but transmitting il on t others
who enlarged upon it until It reached
its final state--Scottish Review.