Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-20

gun when the angels sang to the shepherds
upon the hills of Palestine, Glory to God
In the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward men" The echo Of that song has
reverberated in the ears and hearts of men
and women, in all lands among all nations,
and in all the ages that have succeeded one
another since that memorable night when
the child Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Jesus the baby lying asleep in manger,
but destined to mold the thoughts and feel
ings of millions upon millions of human
beings and shape the myriads OF actions
which fill their lives.
Christmas, or the celebration of the birth
day of Christ was instituted some 300 years
after the year in which that event actually
occurred. No one knows upon what day or
even in what time OF the year 1t was that
Jesus was born, and December 25 is only a
day appointed for celebration Of the event.
Many Christian festivals were instituted in
the place of those of the Jewish or Roman
religions and it has been claimed that
Christmas succeeded the Saturnalia, revel
that would hardly be permitted at the pres
ent time. Its most important features were
singing, dancing and playing upon instru-
ments, and the giving and receiving OF
presents.
The Christian churches of Egypt and Asia
celebrated the nativity upon January G, but
the Romans fixed upon December %. This
was the "Brumala" or winter sostice, and
upon it the Pagans annually celebrated the
birth of the sun.
The middle ages were prolific in festivals
and extended Christmastide to whole
week. which in England became known as
yuletide, named from 'yule," or 'huel,
meaning a wheel, and standing for the sun,
its representative being a large log, called
the yule-clog. 1t was time of great gaiety
and eating and drinking. Songs not par
ticularly pious were composed and sung. The
Puritans regarded these diversions with holy
horror and did not hesitate to compare
them to the old Saturnalian or Bacchanal
ian festivals of the heather Romans The
custom of decorating churches and houses
in evergreen Is supposed to have been derived
from a like custom that prevailed among
the Druids. In the sixth century the
churches OF the east united with those Of
the west and now all celebrate the ma
tivity upon December %.
The oldest form of Christmas music and
poetry is the carol. There was one composed
by Aureius Prudentius in the fourth cen
tury. and there is every reason to believe
that they existed as early as the beginning
of the Christmas celebration. A carol was
originally song in such rhythm that 1t
could accompany dancing. 1T appears to
have been danced by many performers, by
taking hands. forming in a ring and singing
as they went around" Carols were set to
sacred or secular words. and were sung
in the midst of great hilarity and carousal.
In Puritan times David's Psalms were set
to tunes many of them secular in nature
and origin. In 1642 a book was published
with the following title: 'Certaine of
Davids Psames Intended for Christmas Car
OILS, Fitted to the Most Sollempne Tunes
Everywhere Familiarlie Used; by William
Slayter, Printed by Robert Younge" The
reader is not informed whether David, Mr..
Slayter, or Mr.. Younge intended them
for Christmas Carols"
Christmas music has become an important
factor in the world of art. The Messiah"
is performed in many cities at Christmas
time and does much to keep alive a good
healthy tasto for the glories OF the old
and original school of oratorio. But for the
yearly performance Of The Messiah" there
are cities In this country that would never
hear a work by Handel and but for the
pride in giving Christmas performance
of this work it would not be heard. The
churches all over the world make special
preparation for Christmas music, and songs
and anthems by the hundred have been writ
ten for this great festival. BY far the great
est work ever composed for the Christmas
tide services of the church is the christmas
Oratorio," by John Sebastian Bach. This
wonderful work was composed in 1884. when
Bach was 80 years of age. 1t was written
TO be performed at st. Thomas church in
Leipzig for the regular celebration of the
Christmas festival. The work Is in six
parts, each intended for particular service
on particular day, namely, Christmas day,
December 26 and q, New Years day, the
following Sunday and the feast of the
Epiphany. In the German Reformed church
the celebration began December 20 and ended
January 6, thus including the day celebrated
by the churches of Egypt and Asia and that
must have had to prepare such music for
regular church service! Large oratOrio
societies fear to undertake H. and its first
production in London, December 10, 1878,
was looked upon as a musical event of the
greatest importance. BRch's choir was not
fed upon the twadde known as Gospel
Songs" nor did he hold that music must be
written down to the level of the ignorance
OF a public that knows nothing of art and
never will If left to itself Bach was an
intensely religious man and believed that
music in church service had holy mission
TO perform. AS an expression of human emo
tions 1t could become the divine language of
religion and the vehicle of worship. The
pride in Christmas music does much for the
development OF art, and certainly deserves
the encouragement OF musicians. The
church has always been powerful
factor In the worlds musical development
or degradation. and when ii lends its aid to
the cause of musical progress better times
for both church and music may be expected
One cannot degrade the language by which
he expresses his feelings without degrading
the feelings themselves to the level of his
language.
Christmas is a time OF JOY and good will
but there are many people engaged in study
ing music who make IL an excuse for vast
ing time. We can make money and friends
and successes, but we cannot make even an
instant OF time. When 1t is gone it is gone
forever and our chances for usefulness are
diminished just so much. 1t is strange
fact that music pupils feel called upon to
kill time" 1t is their best friend. A
minute is long enough in which to learn
something that may be Of value as long as
one lives. Waiting until after Christmas
is one OF the greatest injuries done by that
celebration to those who are interested In
music. The season is then half gone and
half of years opportunities are lost for
ever vacation OF week or two at Christ
mas would be a timely rest and would give
one new energy with which to finish the
seasons work. But no vacation is needed
by those who get to their work at the last
minute and leave II upon the slightest prov
ocation.
Childrens services at Christmas time are
often productive of much good. There are
Christmas carols suitable for the little ones
thai can forward the growth OF the divine
art in their hearts and open the way that