Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-10


The celestial banjo ia curiosity. IL looks
like long handled stewpan. the di-h part
beng covered with snako-kin drawn very
tight. IL has three kevs aud four strings. aud
II we're madness O. call its music melody. The
brass banjo l. about the size 81 a share drum,
but not nearly ~ deep. and looks like n skillet.
lt Is constructed GA the same theory its
sister. the stew pan. and har the same number
of strings and kew.
The clariouet 81 the celestial bears the same
relation 10 the Chinese band that the cornet dos
to the taGca-lau. II l. long brass hora with
a lot Of holes down one side aud can make
shrilier noises and morn kinds of them than
any other instrument In the hand. II herd- by
Itself IN the concentration 81 sounds and asserts
Its individuality at every foot
This make up the ten Instrument considered
necessary 10 form haud for the almoni-eycd
orlentals. and oue easily get ones ''suf-
ficiency full OF Monaghan music from the ten.
One would have 90 be VERY hungry indeed for
noise not To call the addition 81 one a super
fluffy. These ten Instruments with brawny
rice-eating son Of Confucius at the business
end OF each can easily drown out the sounds II
a crack American baud of 100 pieces with an
anvil accompaniment thrown in. And vet these
sad-eyed brothers Of l;uddha express In their
music every shade OF passion ana sentiment -
interpreted by the Monaghan mind.
They play nocturns that tell of oriental -kies
and the melodious voices Of nature. '-lso--
som snow falls from the trees. nightingAls-s
, carol among their branches. the deere 'plaint-
i've voice L. heard IN auiumnal woods frngcd
with fire of maple leaves. Silvcrlv the moon
touches the white Of the lingering chry-anthe-
NUNS tin IL ghtters like snow. or ''aewirops,
jewel like. weigh down the flowers: moonbeans
blend with the flowing river which soinetimes
mirrors blo-soming branches tin riDples seem
to rise in tremulous flower waves.
''reyery brings before them the dark
Nemesis Of rnst misdreas. uukind words 20
parents, anger with the agcd-both uuparion-
able sins in "a SON of T~nfacias-hands red
dened with innoc.n; blood. the just DETAINED,
the criminal ugliited. Perhaps from the
qgieter compositions the ''prodigal" speaks
and SAYS; The place where | ava won't TO dwell
l can only IN the di:a distance like a cloud
path. aud before tue rise mouutLius piled on
mountains. hat which msv be ms destined path
| know not; have but Tins one travellers robe.
Sometimes the sunset hath found me wander
ing GA wild moors. on LONELY mountains. or 4
have slept ia Wayside hamlets. but az length
my journeyinC- draw near o. their close. for I
have well nigh reached the village of which I
know but the name.
Their queer instruments convey 90 them. as
ours to u. the story 81 stormed forts aud b.t-
tered bastIons; tie Croans of tue wounded.
curses OF the conquered and eNulting cheers q
the congueror- There D. a story of love an
each clear note o. the flu;a the matter Of re-
veugc in the gut;cral walls % the siringed IN
struments and q Whole tragedy In the jangle Of
di-corlant brasscS. let. ~ there truth IN
the definition Of music. "a combination or
succession OF sounds having the property II
pitch 20 arranged a. to please the ear, 90 the
Caucasian perception. al beast. the oriental or
chestra il not away mp n q on harmony.
IsABEI. NohREi.L BALI