Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-02-06


have brought out the interesting 1act
that the first conductors baton was
a formidable staff, about six feet long,
which the old-time French musicians
Lully by name, who invented it, may
have used as much to intimidate the
members of his orchestra as to marx
the time. In the very Oldest Or
chestras. as in Chinese Orchestras OF
the present day, there was no con-
ductor in the modern sense. Every
performer played as well as he could,
and the man who played upon the
lOudest instrument-the kettledrum,
for instance-marked the time for
the rest.
When music became more sys-
tematic and refined, the chief COM
mand of the orchestra was given to
the member who was regarded as the
most accomplished and skillful. He
assigned the other members to their
parts, drilled them at rehearsals, and
supervised the final performance.
To produce good effect, it was
necessary of course, that the musicians
should play in time, and the chief OF
the orchestra, who himself played one
instrument, was accustomed to marx
the beat by stamping on the floor
with one foot. For this reason the
conductor of an orchestra was at that
period called the pedarius.
Afterward it became customary for
him to give the time by clapping the
fingers of his right hand against the
hollow of his left. The beater of time
after this fashion was called the
manuductor.
Meantime experiments were made
in marking the time by striking
shells and bones. The bones were
soon given up as instruments to be
used by the conductor of an orchestra;
but they survived as an Independent
instrument. Boys and negro min
strels ''blay on the bones" with great
gustO to this day.
In the early part of the seventeenth
century the musician already alluded
to, Lully by name, arose. He found
all these instruments of leadership
luCuCCUIVC, dAu III OluCI W lCOuOC LID
performers to complete subjectlon,
he procured a stout staff six feet long,
with which he pounded vigorously on
the floor to mark the time.
One day, becoming particularly i'm
patient, and pounding with especial
vigor, Lully struck his foot instead of
the floor with his baton. The wound
gangrened, and Lully died from its
effect in 1857.
The baton continued in use through
out the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries, but though it gradually de-
creased in size, there is no evidence
that conductors marked the time in
any other way than by pounding upon
their music-stands or some other hard
object.
All this pounding must have had
an unpleasant effect upon the music,
and critics and musicians began to
ridicufe the practice. In course OF
time, therefore, we find musical con-
Gnctors no longer humping upon the
floor or their music-stands, but beat
ing the time entirely in the air. It
seems to have taken players very
long time to learn that they could
get the time as easily by means of the
eye as by means of the ear.
Against His own Orders.
Young Abijah Hatch was in the
stable with his two brothers, Samuel
and Joseph, who had been at school
that day. '.Bije's" schooling was fin
ished. Mr.. Hatch, who stood out
side, could not but overhear his sons
conversation about the farm he-goat.
"You know" Bile was saying, show
mad it makes old Billy to shake your
fist at him. You know how he puts
down his head and goes for you.
SWELL" continued Abijah, ''this
afternoon, l climbed down behind the
ducking-rock, where it's fat with the
bank, to get drink from the river.
When lifted myself, there was old
Billy staring at me. / made up my
mind to get even with him. So I
shook both fists at him, and he just
tore at me. When he was real close
/ popped down behind the rock. He
was going so fast he couldn't stop.
So he went right over my head into
the river"
"Let's try it on him again." said
Joseph.
"Yes, let's,'' SAID Samuel.
"You would, would you?" said their
father, coming around the corner and
looking sternly on the three.
"That was mean trick to play on
old Billy-and the water icy cold.
too, continued Mr.. Hatch, fixing q
severe eye on Bile. sDon't you ever
let me hear of your doing it again.
Do you understand"
Eyes, sir" said the three boys all
at once, for their father was what is
called strict disciplinarian.
That night Mr.. Hatch told his wife
the story.
'.Did you ever see old Billy act that
way?" he asked.
eyes; he goes headlong at anybody
that shakes fist at him.
sCurious! I'd like to see him do
r.