Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1893-12-15
Beginning of Music In New England.
By Sue s. MjIlhouser.

first planted in New England, the frs
definite attempts at musical composition
were made in New England.
1t is said that the Puritans brought
five tunes with them to which ali hymn,
were sung. Each hym was lined by the
minister and sung by rote. These times
were, OF course, unsccompanied, for il
: was many years before an organ was per
mltted to be used in the church.
Mr.. Brsttle, who himself was Puri'
tan, left in his will. made 1913, an organ
to the Brattle Street Church, in Boston,
provided they would accept the gift
within year, and procure an organist
to play "skiliiully and with loud noise. "
He used the quotation from the Scrip.
lures in defense of church music, but
without avail. 1t was not sufficient to
overcome the prejudice OF the Puritans.
The gift was not accepted, and. when n
year after, the organ was placed in
Kings Chapel, Cotton Mathew, in one
OF his lectures, lamented the wickedness
that was beginning to creep into church
music.
1t took until 1890 for the Congrega.
tional church OF New England To dis.
cover there was no great sin in an organ.
In work entitled observations
Made by the Curious in New England
in 1873" we read, 'In Boston there are
no musicians by trade" "A dancing
school was set up but put down" "a
fencing school was allowed"
A singing school was begun in Boston
in l7l7 and reading music by sight be-
came an American art.
Gottlieb Grsupner was the first must
cal director in America. He came from
Hanover in l79S and settled in Boston. |
He gathered up about fifteen musicians,
who formed the first Symphony Orches-
ira in America. AT that time there were
only about forty pianos in Boston, and
it was no. uncommon to see the adver-
tisement, "Piano music taught and the
use OF piano allowed"
The first Symphonies given were
those OF Gyrowetz, They were followed
by those OF Hayden. and after many
years came the Beethoven Symphonic.
At this time the wars OF the revolution
and 1912 gave rise to some American
music. And yet much OF this music is
not our own. Nearly all our National
music is borrowed from foreign sources.
yankee Doodle" is an Englsh melody.
1t was sung in derision by the British
troops because of the dilapidated con-
dition OF the Massachusetts, regiment.
Hail Columbia was written by Ger
man, although both words and music
were born on American soil. Hail Col
umbia is regarded in Europe as our true
National anthem. And il is fitting that
IL should be, since it is the only one OF
our National melodies which had its
birth among us. The Star Spsngled Ban {
ne, which we on this side OF the ocean
,all our National tune, is not American
IN its origin; it is an old English drink :
ng song. The words are OF American
origin. They were written during the
of TT. McHenry, by Mr.
Key, (Sir Francis Scott Key. Mr..
Doorak has been criticised Tor suggest
ng that the negro melodies be made the !
oasis of an American school OF music.
He does not want American composers I
% write variations on these melodies;
ne wants them to study the structure
md elements Of these songs and initiate
hem in the composition OF original mel !
)des I
The Hungarian music is taken from
he music OF Hungarian Gypsy bands.
L has peculiar coloring unlike that OF
my other country.
The music of the Northern countries
II Europe is OF a dreamy, melancholy
character. The mountainous country and
ong winter evenings have depressing
fleet upon the people, which is reflected
a their songs. The character OF a Nation q
8 always reflected in their folk songs. ;
Some has said: LET me make a b
yation's ballads, who will make its
Avs"
Musical life in America is slowly de-
clipping. When music comes to be re-
arded as an educational factor-when
lusc is brought down to the masses by Y
eing taught ia every public school
throughout the land, then we may hope
Dr. better things. a
We are very young in the art divine, .
ut we have made grand strides. Let y
s hope that American music may soon "
e found upon as high pedestal as that
ow occupied by American literature or 3
ainting.
CRAB ORCHARD.