The morning call., 1894-01-21

have something to say that has not yet
been made public AT Chicago there was
q congress of religions. This was not the
first one. for in India some two or three
hundred years a 90 there was one, as also
another over 1000 years back. These con-
crosses are not favored by all and are
parents of discard.
My proposition is unique one. In
listening to the music of the West nv ears
have been panied. and this not owing to
false notes or bad playing. but to the fact
that fats are used in con Jun elton with
sharps in such a way as 10 produce un-
pleasantDess to an ear trained in our
music. You don like Chinese OF Arabian
music: the Chinese and Arabs do not love
your music. Why then should there not
be congress OF musicians where on COM
mon platform each distinct race may eX-
plain and PROFOUND its music, develop its
theory and illustrate it? There 8 no funda-
mental difference between our East Indian
music and your Western music Both are
founded on the same seven notes, but to
our ears there are things permitted by
you which necessarily kresult IN faults
against harmony.
There are practically only three great
schools of music on the surface of the
globe-the Chinese, the East Ind an and
the Western, which last comprises the
music of all the European nations and
their offShootS. India has its own music.
1t was India and Brahma to whom the
world owes the seven notes. India is the
oldest civilized nation, the Vedas are the
Oldest hymns, and Sanskrit, the language in
which they are written, the oldest human
speech. In chanting the Vedas generally
there is touch of music. OF the four
Vedas one is called Samaveda, and in In
dia there is saying, Out of the Sama-
veda came music the meaning, suppose,
being that this book, which is always
chanted, covers the Whole basis of musical
sound.
Nv hen the various racial theories have
been explained then comparison could be
made out of them and a universal theory
DEVELOPED which would result in the COM
position of music which would be grateful
and pleasing to the ears of all nations
No diScord would be evoked by such a
congress. only harmony and peace could
! result.
I'm San Francisco you have represe nta-
'tives of every racial style of music except
that Of India and if the Midwinter Fair
officials. before whom my project is laid,
act favoTably in the matter | will send for
my brother, Mungesh Rao Telang, an
official Of the Supreme Court of Bombay
and great musician. After the Moham-
medan conquest of India the study of the
theory of music was abandoned and only
practical music taught. TIE books tina
contained the theory remained, however,
6uQ udbU VI ldlc Dteu CdIbiulII stUul6Q IN
the SaGskrit and Mungesh RaO Telang is
now engaged ia editing book to be called
'Sangitaratuakara, or Ocean of Music
He would undoubtedly be willing to come
and would be equally good in explaining
the theory and illustrating the practical
part"
What about your musical instruments pr
asked the reporter.
II was about TO say that my brother has
got the oldest instrument in the world. 1t
is called the vina' and Sir William Jones
in his work on music says that il is a
superior instrument 70 the piano. 1t Is
made of piece of wood tor a sounding
board that rests on two gourds. Over this
on from twenty-one to thirty two bridges
are stretched four strings, while on each
side are stretched two more. The gourds
add depth and richness to the notes. The
instrument is about four feet long and
though the music is beautiful. there are
but few players on it by reason of its diff
Guilty, probably five or six in India. Some
musician devised from the 'vrna' another
instrument called the STAR which consists
of half gOurd, The neck being continued
by piece of wood, over which are stretched
seven strings. THIS is a fayorite instru-
ment. There are bands OF music in India
as here. but we seldom use brass, excep pit
as mouthpice. OF the hundreds of in
struments there is one called the saraDgi,
on the same principle as the violin, TO
"nicn, however. Ii Is superior. over the
sounder are stretched four strings, under
which lie four brass wires that add won
derful depth and beauty to the notes.
Drums. toe. are very common, but they are
played not with sticks, but by the fingers,
and produce splendid results"
"Apropos of the Vedas, what have you
In modern literature in India?" querled
the reporter.
We have translations-several ones
OF Sbakespeare's dramas. done by learned
Brahmins and acted by Brahmins. The
language into which they are translated is
Mahratti. the language of cultivated people
In the presidency of Bombay, and that is
the reason. why the Brahmins act them. a
mem Der Of our family. the Hon. Justice
Telang. has translated Nathan the Wise'
from German into Mahratti. The drama
is indigenous to India Two thousand
years ago the world renowned drama
'Shakuntala. or the Lost Ring was
written by the famous poet Kalidasa.
There are from five to seven acts ana
scenes in the drama, and thousands of
years ago the rules on writing dramas were