Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-05
OUR MUSICAL WORLD.

The meaning of song goes deep. Who
! is there that, in logical words, can ex-
| press the effect music has on us? A
kind of inarHculate, unfathomable
speech, which leads us to the edge of
| the infinite and let's us for moments gaze
| into that.-Carlyle.
Music in Birmingham has become al
most fad. Our society ladies' who have
been Indifferent for years to this great
accomplishment have begun practicing
/ arduously, so that they may keep up with
| their neighbors and associates in this
direction. This spirit is to be applauded
by all good people, for the reason that
there is no surer way of attaining cit
| izenship of high cultivation and refine
ment than through the channel that mu-
sic affords. A famed writer once said:
| Music is the mediator between the spir-
| itual and the sensual life. Although the
| spirit be not, master of that which 1t
Great ties through music. yet 1t is blessed in
| this creation, which, like every creation
of art is mightier than the artist" And
| another writer says: Music washes
away from the soul the dust of everyday
| life." Then let US encourage in every
way possible this awakening of musical
| interest.
Birmingham is city of clubs and So.
| cieties, and several of these societies are
| musical. The fact that we have two good
schools of music and several good musi-
cal clubs, with several more in contem-
| plation, is one of the best advertise
| ments the city could possibly have
Most of our churches have suspended
| their regular ehoirs for the hot summer
months. st. Mary Highlands
| still holds it's superb quartette intact and
| it renders beautiful music at every SER
| vice. 1t is to be hoped that all our
churches will arrange to have good choirs
next fall bearing in mind that music is
the child of prayer, the companion of re-
ligion.'
| DR.. Wheelan proposes to improve his
| orchestra at the opera house and make 1t
an attraction within itself during the
| coming season. This will certainly in
| te-fere with Glove and parched coffee
eaters between the acts.
|
The Treble Clef club, composed of well
known ladies, will keep up their organiza-
| ton next winter and will afford great
deal of pleasure to a large circle Of
| friends.
An amateur orchestra, composed of la
| dies and gentlemen over twenty in num-
| Der, has been organized and will be a
| source of much pride to it's friends after
a little rehearsing together. 1t is pro-
posed that the orchestra shall be amateur
| from first to last, no professional mu-
| sicians being admitted to membership.
1 - -@AAeSAt'S
Mrs. Benjamin Guckenberger will
| spend a month or more at her home in
| Boston before the opening of the next
regular term of the Conservatory of Mu-
| sic.
There is an effort being made to get
| up sufficient subscription to bring to
| Birmingham during the winter five high
class concert companies. embracing such
| famous musicians as Nordica, Joseffy
| and Camilla Urso. The subscription
price is S. for the entire series. Surely
| there are few people in our city who will
not be glad to take advantage of the OPP
portunity of hearing such artists.
| So
| Every now and then you run across
| some person in a neighborhood who is
unmuSical and so far below the average
| standard of civilization that they con-
| slider music at their neighbours house
| bore and nuisance. Such people are to
be pitied by the more cultured and en-
| lightened.
Prof. Henri Weber is bringing his band
up to high standard of proficiency.
| Birmingham is fortunate in having such
a magnificent leader.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick, formerly organist at
| st. Mary's, paid Birmingham visit last
| week. He is now located in Montgomery.
| 1t is rumored that one of our most
prominent society bellies will give an
opera early in the fall for the benefit of
| charity. If this should be fact there
| can be no doubt of the success of the un-
| dertaking.
Mr.. James e. Gillies, composer of I'm
Thee Alone" "Katey NV Love and |"
and "Canst Thou Forget is getting quite
a broad reputation as song writer His
compositions are being sought by several
houses 1t is understood he is at work
on two comic songs, to be published soon.
Mr.. Gillies is "a Scotchman, but has been
resident of Birmingham for many
years.
A good musical instrument adds as
much to the attraetiveness and social
elevation of a home as a musical educa-
ton does to person. The social musical
evenings at home, the songs and melo-
dies there made familiar are among the
memories longest cherished, which in
fiuence and bless whole life.
Mrs Julia N. Finch, one of our best
teachers, is not only a superb musician,
but she is a poetess of no little merit.
Her verses are being solicited by the
best magazines. The following lines by
Mrs. Finch were written some months
ago. and I know the authoress will be
surprised to see them in print. Ger
trude," is a charming little miss of this
city. ana VIII De easily recognized by
many:
Where Gertrude Plays.
"a Monologue.)
She sits, a small elf,
Before the CLEAN and shine
or the ivory tinted keys.
Her hands, like small white birds,
Just touching here and there
gentle rythm built on thirds
or major theme, light, debonnairel
Her earnest eyes full of thought,
The brow above carven pearl!
The lips like newly budded flowers!
The length of shining hair is caught,
But 'scapes and falls loosened curl.
Dainty and fine, she holds the spell
or musics mystic meaning;
Brings. sunshine's CLEAN, the moons
pale beam,
Or fairy's hand on a spirit belll-
All manner of dainty cleaning!
We hear the faint chime
OF the rose as she grows,
Or the tinkle of lily bells cup;
The smooth measured rhyme
OF each flower IL blowsl
We hear the tender calling
Of dove unto dove,
The slow, unwilling falling
dAod lAaxr nc frAr al.