The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-04
to move men and animals, others to in
huence lifeIess objects

But of these ancient peoples of the
orient few remain. Little is known yet
OF their history; less is known of their
music. OF the Asiatic nations, the Phue-
nlcians, Assyrians, the Hindus and the
MongolianS and of their melodic meth
DDS we can tell but little. With the eX
ceptlon of the Cingalese, whose quaint
and weird tunes are heard throughout
Hungary, the literary musician has
given the world little information.
The Hebrew people Is the only one of
the nations Of antiquity who have brought
with them through the ages the mass of
evidence, in form though, of traditions.
The genius of the Hebrew lay in the
direction of emotion. Unlike the AS
syrian, he had no sculptures. Archi-
lecture was but poorly represented, and
Solomon's temple was built by for
eigner. Unlike the Greeks, the drama
mad little attraction, and the circus was
not to his taste. There was only one
geyser by which his pent-up emotion
could find congenial vent, and that was
in passionate ouJbursts of lyrical poetry
and the corresponding outpouring of ex-
temporized song. And it is here that we
must look for the import OF the Hebrews
in musical history.
Their relation to instrumental music
is purely subordinate. They had but few
instruments and nearly all were bor-
rowed from the Egyptians. Yet in bor-
rowing they selected with especial regard
to their religious functions. That most
sensuous Of ali instruments-thed drum
was to the last an exile from the land.
The instrument was the harp, and it is
asserted by Naumann that to Monotheism
must be joined the harp as the Hebrew
gifts to humanity. The reason for the
favor showns the harp was that Jewish
music was essentially vocal and not in
- ,snf
Judea was not the orchestra leader, but
the minstrel poet or prophet.
These Hebrew MINISTRIES could never
have risen above the social status and i'm
portance OF their brethren had not their
themes been the noblest and best that
man can aspire to sing of. For they who
sing of love shall be neglected when men
are arming for war, and those who lisp OF
gurgling brooks and green trees shall be
unheeded when men are busted with the
stern duties OF life. But these minstrel
poets sang the praises and might of God
to a people intoxicated with deity, and
that is why the fame of the brightest
Minnesinger shrinks to q speck before
| the majesty of Isaiah and the renown OF
a Bach dwindles before the glory of the
sweet psalmist of Israel. Wild and art
less their strains may have been, but the
noblest part remains and tradition low
l.ingly fills in the gaps
The influence of the Semitic on modern
music is proven to be very potent The
Greeks got their instruments from Asia
and the names of the most ancient Greek
styles or modes-Lydian, Dorian, Ionian
| Phrygian, MiXolydiau-support the opin-
| ion that Greek knowledge was obtained
| from Syria and Egypt.
"Koman prosecutions brought vast
numbers of Hebrews to Rome, whilst in
| Spain the liberation of the MoorS offered
| the opportunity for developing theil
strong love for poetry and music.
"To return, however, to that particular
aspect of oriental music, whose living
representatives testify to its existence
and antiquity, we ind that Israers con.
ception of God differed from that OF Other
| re-Christian nations in that, instead O.
! deifying nature, they adopted the belle
/ of an invisible God, incapable of repre-
sentation. Their love for music thus be-
came enhanced, for being ETHEREAL and in
| corporeal, music was tribute to Hin
| who was incorporeal.
The melodies OF the Temple are grand
simple, moving. The great building was
filled with inspiring strains put III
| by ministerlng priests and chant
ing Levites. instruments in grea
numbers were used, and the Bible tell.
of nearly thirty different kinds. Jose phu
says 10000 harps and 100000 silver trum
|
his message inspired by chords produced
on the Tyre. 1t is accepted as almos
certain that jeremiah chanted his Lamen
| taIiOns to an ancient melody preserves
by oral tradition, and which L will chan
if you will take my voice as you find it
with all its lmperfections and short
comingS.
when Jerusalem fell under Titus AM
persecution ragged the Levitical lips wer
|
neglected. But in the synagogue wer
chanted such melodies as were brough
to mind from Zion and the Holy Hill.
Some, though very few, of these exis
| which have been additionally preserved
and transmitted from one generation Il
another with religious care and Venera
ton has reached our time. Thes
melodies were preserved by oral instruc
ton. The priest would have the acolyt
repeat and repeat until melody was thor
oughly known. Scripture was chanted
The traditional melodies of the synagogu
are chiefly plain chants or recitatives
like the Gregorian or Ambrosian {
Christian churches. These are declama
tory and are short.
But when the iron heel of persecutio
trampled Israel under foot, we find
plaintive, monotonous wall, a mixture {
grief and resignation, of sorrow that i
human and resignation that is divine. ]
! you listen to these old songs of Zion yo
detect the story Of gloom and despai
dense and dark, and ever and anon yo
hear sobs of grief wrung from the lips {
. the unfortunate people by the cruelty {
their taslmasters. At first they coul
; not sing the songs of the Lord in a strang
land. But soon hope beat in their breast
/ and again they sang of the future brigh
for all. The songs of Zion were agai
sung, no more in the major but in th
> minor key. The element of sufferin
{ had been introduced and the melodie
handed down prove it. Later develop
ment shows an establishment, but III
; dirge theme is discernible.
f eff in the past the music of Zion
5 plaintive and mournful, if discord hf
? prevailed and interrupted the harmon
[ that God has ordained shall prevail, "
1 should look not to the past, but to til
r future, where the ideal of the prophe
/ may become real-one God for all; OIL
brotherhood among all; one land oflove IL
2 all. Art and religion, ethics and esthetit
a shall bring this about, and when ma
e shall follow the central thoughts of I,
e ligion as the safest rules of pure life al
e high standard of knowledge as IL
| safest means to happiness, then will tt
e discords be modulated into divine ha
= mony. For mankind is vast orchestr
/ To-day all are not in tune or time, b.
r they yet shall be, and hearts shall be fu
of love and joy and gratitude. A gran
It oratorio, entitled, The Conquest of Il
n God Idea,' will be performed, al
e mosques and pagodas shall furnish the
e quota to join in the grand hallelujl
chorus. The Lord God Omnipote
s reigneth, and all mankind is great unit
@ even as our Father which is in heaven