Arizona republican., 1892-12-27
CHRISTMAS MUSIC.
VAST SUMS SPENT ON THE CAROL ING PROFESSIONS LONG AGO.

In Italy the Calabrian Shepherds Come
 Down from the Mountains to Greet the
 Child Jesus with Soft, Sweet Notes.
 Queer Music of the Puritans.
 To review even briefly the wonderful Christmas singing and playing in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth rnturies is beyond our limits; yet what genes, splendid, romantic and glowing with life, form and color, mention of those old pageants can summon upl Ac- count books of the day, preserved in the British museum, show what vast sums were spent upon them. Cheapside, Tower hill, Southwark, even forlorn and fallen Whitechapel, were scenes of such festivities. They wake to life as we read of the caroling processions of the olden time; yet, as may well be i'm agined, such redundant doings led to eyceSses, and then authority had to step in. Ministers and priests forbade much that had been customary, while with the Puritans came an absolute law against even the singing of carols.
 Queer droning music, tuneless and de- pressingr was that of Cromwell's choice; vet here and there, in the homes of the better classes, voices were not to be silenced. Had they not the precedent of the angels? As Jeremy Taylor says of that first Christmas music, "As soon as those blessed choristers had sung their Christmas carol, and taught the church hymn to put into her offices forever on the anniversary of this festivity, the angels returned to heaven;" their earthly message sung for all waking Christian world. Meantime in other lands the people had caught up the song of the na- tiyity.
 In Italy the music of Christmas day for centuries was famous, the Sistine chapel being historic for its work of praise that great day, and from the sweep of the "Benedictus" and "Magnif- feat" we reach the sweet soft notes of those Calabrian shepherds, called Pif- ferari, who come down from the noun tains to sing Christmas hymns from place to place, visiting chiefly stables, where they have a tradition the Child Jesus has passed by.
 To dictate precisely what should and what should not constitute good Christ mas singing is not possible, but of course there are, as in every branch of the di- vine art, certain guiding rules, the first one being that all music appropriate for the day should be joyous and expressive of thanks to God, while there are solemn parts of every service of such thanks giving, of course, as with every deep joy is the "stillness" in heart and voice and utterance. No home but should have its own festival of rejoicing, and let those who seek for home harmonies search only the novels or carols of France, or the hymns of those English writers who had vast cathedral aisles to fill, yet contrived to preserve an exquisite simplicity in all their work.
 We need to preserve every Christian tradition dearly. If the yule log cannot be lighted, yet from year to year we can surely keep fire of good will and cheer, and rekindle the old flame, as they who have the yule are wont to do. In the old times, after the Christmas dinner had been enjoyed, the loving cup was passed around, doors at one end of the long hall were thrown open, and there entered company of perhaps fifty per sOns--guests of the host, humble men and women and children, invited from far and wide. After a word of welcome all arose, and as with one voice sang that most perfect of old Christmas hymns, With Hearts Truly Grateful
 Centuries ago other carols were sung there, and, as now, feast provided for one and all, while the question of rank was for that day forgotten. Later, in the orchards, the songs of the season were sung-a tradition prevailing that this insures a good crop for all during the coming year.
 Our theme is endless, yet it is em- bodied in one dominant idea. Whether the notes of great organ fill cathedral, whether the humblest little band of ''waifs" go from door to door, there should be one thought uppermost-we sing the message of the angels, we praise God, and our hearts should remember that peace on earth is the glory of the day.-Lucy c. Lillie in Harper's Bazaar.