The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-08-15
A WONDERFUL PAINTING
AND WONDERFUL MUSIC FOR THE
MULTlTUDES.

"A Grand International Band COnven-
tion-western Music and Musical Edu-
cation Past and Present.
The reli gious and art world are stirred all
up by the coming exhibition of Poore's great
religious painting of "The Night OF tue
Nativity" which has been secured for the
art gallery of the Detroit International
Exposition, to be held September l1bh-2Ith-
This large and important picture Is the
greatest work of an American artist in recent
years, not only on account of its high merit
as a work of art, but also because of Its
wonderful religious feeling and influence
The canvas is large the figures life size, ana
its perspective gives strange impression OF
mmensity to the desert sni the sky, IN
which the miraculous Star of Bethlehem Is
the central point The picture represents
the shepherds around their watchfire in the
desert watching and discussing With holy
awe
THE STAR THAT HERALDs THE BIRTH OF
CHRIST.
| This star glows with strange radiance
above the western horizon, its mystic light
mingling with the paler gleam OF the
oriental night and the rudy blazs OF the
watchflre. All about the fire. and fading
gradually into the outer darkness, lie the
| slumbering fiocks in picturesque groups In
the right center of the canvas is the principal
group, OF three shepherds-one old, two
tyoung-who discussing the celestial
wonder, upon which all attention is turned,
with manifest awe. They lean against a
bank as they talk, in life-like attitudes. On
the bank lies a young shepherd, who is
| sheltering a feeble lamb in his mantie, evil
IDENTIFY listening to the sage of the party, but
too tired and awed to jnin in the talk. On
the left Of the picture IS another group OF
tshepherds who are considering the mysterious
star with rapt wonder The artist has given
to the atmosphere of the oriental night, with
Its peculiar light and shade and to the atti-
tudes and countenances of the shepherds,
subtitle solemnity that grows upon the
spectator till the whole strange scene fixes
itself In the memory like the vision OF holy
dream.
Lovers of musical art are also anticipating
STRANGE SEPTEMBER FEAST
during the great Detroit International
Exposition. The managers have engaged
Cappa's famous band of the rich and fashion
able Seventh Regiment of New York City to
give series of grand concerts, daily and
nightly during the fair. This band is con-
sidered the finest military band in America.
Besides this band, Cappa is under contract
TO bring with him forty of the most famous
soloists upon different instruments to be
found upon this continent. Most of these
&. | will be heard for the fist time in the vest
though a few are familiar through the great
concerts of such organizations as those Of
Gilmore and Thomas But this is not all. A
GRAND INTERNATIONAL BAND CONVENTION
| is planned, in which tue crack bands of th'
United States aud Canada will compete fol
| fame and cash, and the whole will conclud'
| by a combined monster concert, in which al
the bands will join, led by Cappa's and thu
| forty stars.
This reminds us that western musica
education is young tree of recent growth
Before the War for the Union there wa:
: | very little popular musical education The
b village band used to consist of some ole
veteran who could play the drum that h
| had carried when a youth in the wars of tn
Republic, hanked by an equally ancient fife
4 ur two; and the way these old fellows woul
, RATTLE AND sHRILL THE SOUL OF PATRIoTIsl
into the village youth on the Fourth of July
was caution to public enemies. If ther
was not so much skill, there was vim an
earnestness in the old me music that spok
| of Bunker Hill, New Orleans and the Hall
Z | of the MonteZumas plainly that ever
Z schoolboy understood and felt it Afte
J. these the old fashioned singing school" com
n / pi6Geu une musical euucdGIOliui IacllilIeS u
. the people, except in few favored cities an
, | towns
l. The people in those days used to sing th
famous minstrel melodies of Foster an
Christie's minstrels, including such a
a | aSwanee River" "Oid Kentucky Home,
aMassas in the Cold, Cold Ground" 90;
| Dog Tray" and others whose simple pathC
has never been exce.led by the familiar air
of any country. There were also other ol
time favorities that everybody murdered b
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EXECUTION.
Then came the War for the Union, an
patriotism found voice in music. Militar
bands were formed all over the country
Composers, fired by the enthusiasm of batt
and victory, poured over the nation ric
flood of melody. "Kingdom Coming,
Marching, "RalIy Round the Flag" "Joh
Browns Body" Dixie" and that spir
rousng march that still keeps its hold upo
the popular ear, "Marching Throug
| Georgia." were born of that stirring periot
After the war nearly
EVERY CITY AND VILLAGE HAD ITS MILITAR
:, | or bands. Music had been given an immens
. | impulse. Musical education became popula
every where. Music stores were opened
| all cities, and the sale OF musical instrl
ments grew rapidly. Music is now taugi
in the public schools throughout most of tt
l west, and the German method is every whel
adopted The lighter forms of opera ha,
become popular. The piano is found
: | almost every wellto-do home, and there al
Few YOUNG PEOPLE WITHOUT A MUsIcA
D TRAINING
| far In advance of anything enjoyed by the
| parents. Still
THE POPULAR TASTE FOR BAND MUSIC
= | predominates with the multitude. tt
bear the familiar sounds of blaring bra
that inspired them when the long blue lin
charged through the battle smoke to victor
or death, or cheered their weary feet
10 fresh endeavor after q long march. Al
), there are few of any class whose nerves q
. not thrilled and pulses stirred by the SCUM
!, of war and triumph, life and action. that q
the peculiar quality of the music of bra
:, bands with ''sonorous metal blowing ma
:, tial airs.
Hence when one hundred thousand liste
;" congregated the Detroit ExpositiS
grounds to hearken to the strains of
HUNDRED FINE BANDS COMBINED
together, and all playing the glorious airs
n "Marching Through Georgia." "Dixie," al
"God Save the Queen, led by Cappa's for
splendid stars, the form of enthusiasm tn,
will surely evoke will be sight to see al
remember for years. and the grand volun
of the music will be a wonder to heart tt
Akn a