The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-04-23
MUSIC A NATIONS LANGUAGE,
The Power of Harmonious Sound Speaks
to Nations, individuals and Races.

| Tho Power OF Harmonious Sound Speaks
to Nations. individuals and Races.
Ne may call music the language
OF the world for it speaks as many
1dloms as there are nations, races and
even individuals. Ono single detached
note, intoned by different voices or in
struments' will convey as many mean
ings as there may be ears to hear it,
1t may sound martial upon the trump
et sylvan upon the horn feminine
upon the clarinet" naive upon the
"hautboys, sublime upon the Organ
mysterious upon the ''aeolian harm. "
prosaic upon the "street organ" and
common upon the banjo" The spe-
citic timbre of these instruments and
their handling may invest that one
tone with volumes of images and poems.
to certain degree akin among Guilt
waited listeners, and quito contradictory
to others.
Sweetest remembrance may be re-
called by 1t upon the banjo, terpscicho-
rean Inspirations reused upon the street
organ, and chorus Of angels may de-
scend from it upon the worldly cornet-
a-piston. Tho simplest song although
provided with words, will scarcely ever
repeat analogous sensations in the same
person, and probably never in n large
audience, in which traditions. associa-
lions, historical or national influences
Will more or less increase or lessen the
receptive powers.
Adding to this the numerous condi-
lions under Ghich the performance OF
that song may take place-such as the
singers voice, disposition art and per-
sonal magnetism; the audiences num-
Der and kind; the locality, its atmcs-
phere, light, etc.-it is evident that
even II the en- gros effort may be of a
homogeneous nature, in details it will
be quite Kaleidoscope.
The 'pibroch, the "Marseillaiso
ode Wacht am Rhein, the "Rakoczy
March" speak each its own special
language, untranslatable in its real
essence 1t takes Scotchman,
frenchman, German and Hungarian
to understand their full meaning. al
though their governing spirit may be
valued by everybody. This is, of
course, more applicable to national
than to cosmopolitan music which may
De also the subject of local, political.
or other Influences. National music.
the source of all cosmopolitan music. is
In the same measure attached to lam
guage and poetry as race character
istics fine art, and sciences depend
upon climatic, geographical and politi-
cal conditions.
thus 1t is nations language which
eneratesits musical rhythm; its poetry
which creates its melody; and its tenn
permanent, the spirit of its dignity ten
derness, mirth, sadness, or fightiness.
whichever may express the respective
peoples national character.
Big American Bells.
The largest bell in America is that OF
Notre Dame Catheral, Montreal, which
hangs in the south tower. II is s feet
high, 8 feet inches in diameter and
weighs 4,7s0 pounds. 1t is orna-
mented with images of the Blessed vir-
gin and st. John the Baptist, together
With emblems Of agriculture, commerce
and industry. 1t was cass in London
in lS47.
In the opposite tower hangs q chino
OF ten bells, the smallest weighing se7
pounds, the largest COLL; total. 2l. 6e6
pounds.
The largest bel in the United States
is the alarm bel on City Hall, New
York which was cast by Blake, OF Bos-
ton. 1t is feet h oh. s feet in diane.
ter and weighs % OCO mounds