Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01
FACTORS IN MUSIC.
THE ART IN ANCIENT DAYS.
Parts Taken by the Egyptians the
Grecks, the Hebrews, and Oshers-
uuters md Generals Moved by the
OelightfuI Strains.

mt work in spreading love lor tne to''c
art OF this country. These factors are
the Church, the Stage. and the German
Choral Society. The Church. he said. had
manifested It's influence mostly in New
England. the operate stage in New York
and its neighborhoods. and the German
GesangverieD 81 the Northwest. The Rich
mond church-choir Kaleidoscope. which Is
now exhibiting its contents. scope. and
ability In an endless variety OF more or
less beautiful colors and more or less sym
metrlcal forms. indicates clearly that the
most potent factor in the advance. cul-
aviation. and appreciation OF musical art
in this city has been the religious ser
vice.
We gather from both sacred and profane
history that msulc was one OF the first
arts known TO man. We learn that mus-
cal instruments were In use before the
Hood. Jubal is said 10 be the father OF
those that handle the harp and the organ.
There Is the authority Of Moses ana the
testimony OF the most ancient ana respect
able historians 10 prove that EGYPT WAS
one OF the first countries In the worid
which cultivated the ans ana sciences.
the wonderful pyramids OF Egypt show
that architecture Vas known TO the Esyp-
tians, and brought by them TO the highest
degree OF magnincence and perfection.
They recorded new inventions upon
columns or pillars. and upon some OF ihe
obelisks the musical Instruments OF That
day are represented. In the Campus Mar
thus. at Rome. there is an oDeisk, sup
posed TO have been erected nearly 9V'
years before the Trojan war: among other
hieroglyphics upon 1t is musical in.tru-
ment upon which are two strings, fast-
ened 10 a neck, like Il violin-neck; IL Is
supposed that this instrument gave tne
idea for the present violin.
II is th-. opinion Of many ancient ana
modern writer's that the first idea OF
Tyre was taken from the shell or tor-
foise washed up and left on the banks
Of the Nile with various other dead AMI
mails. after the river had subsiied from
overlooking the country of Egypt Inc
flesh OF the tortoise. being dried ana
wasted within the shell, and the nerves
md cartilages being firmly bTaced, rem
dered them sonorous. Mercury, 1t If said
walking on the bank Of the Me, STRUCK
his foot against the tortoise-shcll, ohlcn
produced sound, ana TINS susSestci
10 him the Ufst lu'd VI i9'N'
To endeayOr TO trace the science OF
,,,,slc 10 n more remote source than TO
The history OF Egypt would prove with
ON, effect and pruftless. The Greeks VINO
perfected the musical scale. ana cui'i-
waited musical art 20 extensively, unaili-
,nously Acknowledged That most OF INC
ancient musical instruments were IN
vented by Egyptians. Music was IN S"O'.
great estimation among the people OF
49, shVnMNh
their children were taught the i''eIs,
Their songs were settled by law, ana
certain species OF music were established
1v the government, exclusive OF All
others. They divided thu inhabitants oil
their country into casts or tribes, ana ihus
music for many years was cohlni'H -
cluslyely to the priesthood. me hebrews
who adopted many or ther CUSTOMS i,due
10th priests Levites, and musicians
hereditary In the tribe Of Levi. Inc Lace
dfrnonians likewise agreed with the
Ta~ypt!ans and confined their professors
of music 10 one Iai"i!
Tbeir priests. like those Of Egypt
were taught medicine and music, be-
sides being initiated into religious inys-
ferries. If we peruse the Holy Blpie We
shall be convinced from the hlshest au-
thority that music from the earliest ages
1vas In general use We find, as has been
Of All such as handle the harp ana or
gan Genesis, chapter ~. Immediately
after the miraculous interposition or
Heaven in conducting Moses and the
children of Israel through the Red sea,
we behold Moses and the whole Assembly
of the Israelites lifting up their voices IN
solemn chorus to the God or their sal
walton. The sacred song that they then
employed shows us that In the very early
ares of the world vocal music was called
,n az a necessary auxiliary to animate
the soul IN the grateful service or eN-
allied thanksgiving to the Almighty Ia
thor OF the universe. We also read
chat the Lord ordered Moses TO make
stwo trumpets from whole piece Tor
the purpose of calling the assembly ana
for the journeying of the camps. tNum-
hers. chapter 1oD God commanded that
on the seventh month, and the 5'h DAY
thereof. the children or Israel shouiu
hold a holy convocation. He forbid them
from doing any servile work because 1t
was n day OF blowing the trumpet. and
was 10 be observed as a day Of ofer'ng
sacrifices 10 the Lord Numbers, xxix).
The song of Deborah and Barach IL
mentioned i'm the Book Of Judges. "hapter
r. About fifty ears after this period we
read that the daughter or Jephtha, upon
hearing of her fathers victory over the
AmmCnlttS went out W ii'VN nm VIZ"
lin bells and dances. From this time
till Saul was anointed King we read
nothing OF music except concerning the
frumpets made use of on military occa-
sions. II was. therefore. for time. one
of the lost arts. But at this period we
find that music and the spirit OF prophesy
were united in the same persons. Samuel
speaks to saul In these words: After
that thou shalt come to the hill OF God.
where is the garrison OF the Philistines.
Il shall come TO pass that when thou art
come thither to the city thou shalt meet
q company coming down from the high
place, with a psaltery. a tabret. a pipe.
and harp before them; and they shalt
prophesy, and the spirit OF the Lord wilt
come upon thee. and thou shalt prophesy
with them, and thou shalt be turned into
another man."-lSamuel x. 50
The royal Psalmist. who was possessed
OF the SANG spirit Of prophecy. cultivated
music early In life. and his psalms give
ample and wonderful testimony Of his
poetic and musical abilities. He used
30 console himself with a harp and Tyre
when his soul was in heayiness and to
sing the praises OF God with the help of
their accompaniment After David be-
came King We find him giving the great
est announcement TO sacred musical
nrt: his study. practice. and uniform at
tachmcnt TO the art. the great number
OF performers he kept for the purpose Of
making music at religious and other cere-
monies. extended its influence, and was
the means Of its being held In the highest
estimation. In the service Of the ark he
appointed 400 OF the Levites to praise