The herald., 1896-02-15
THE FRIDAY MORNING CLUB
Characteristics of National Music Most
Interestingly Treated
Hiss Mason of Chicago Gives an Essay on the
Subject With Musical Illustrations
of National Airs

That the Friday Morning club is ever on
the alert to sustain the interest of it's men,
bers, by varying its weekly subjects from
matters of public weight or benefit to those
of more direct entertainment and instruc-
ton, was again evidenced at tho meeting
yesterday, to which Miss M. l.. Mason of
Chicago had been invited to portray the
chars cteristics of national music.
The club room was completely filled yes
terday morning with interested women
who had come to hear dissertation on the
subject, but no one was prepared for the
rare pleasure of hearing not only charm
ing essay on characteristics of National
Music, but also most delightful intersper-
sono throughout of vocal illustrations of
the various airs described.
Miss Mason ia of very charming pres
ence, and has the rare gift of low, music
al voice, which seemed 10 adapt itself nat
urally to the minor tones that run through
most of the melodies of the folk songs,
and which had the added advantage Of
being blended with soft piano accompan-
iment rendered by Miss Blanch Rogers.
In speaking of the national airs as a
whole Miss Mason said that melody was
the voice of nature, that it was first learned
from the birds and has ever afterwards
been the racial expression of what has
touched the heart of the people, whether it
be a mournful dirge that bewals conquest
and oppression or triumphant strain,
glorylng in victory and liberty. That these
folks songs never die out, but outlive the
catchy compositions that belong to every
age, because they are the keynote of the
predominant heart of the people, and the
heart music of any country must
always appeal to the heart music
of every other country. Composers
are forgotten, because they possess no par
ticular fame other than breathing tie heart
utterings OF nation, that live forever.
Miss Mason compared the world to q
musical scale in which the minor notes pre-
dominated. Life has always been more
full of cadences than of major tones, she
said, therefore the folks songs of most
countries have been in minor key, reflect
ing the disposition of the people. She gave
as the most striking illustration of the pa
thet:c tendency, several Welsh songs, The
Bells OF Absrgavy, The March of Ruthland
and Adieu to Cambria, the last of which
given in the Welsh tongue, is the wall of
broken hearted ration.
Ireland was also represented as in the
minor scale of hums nifty but with more
hopeful melodies, such as Robin Adar,
which was most beautifully sung.
Hungarian folk songs were we'll portra yed
sesslng some susceptibility to sentiment
The life of the Msgyars, who influence the
country, and whose habits and predilec-
tions are visible in the national music of
Hungary, was very entertainingy de-
scribed.
Miss Mason touched on other European
nations whose songs take the character CT
the people. Those of melancholy OF poetic
tendencies have pathetic music those of
earnest temperament unge their songs
with the dignitied and noble, and those of
light heart break out in merry and joyous
strains, ETC., and after singing Hawaiian
song of the tom-tcm order, she turned
her attention to the orentals, singing the
thrilling song of the dervishes as they enter
the m2aque, and chanting from the Koran
in charming intonation.
Oriental music, she said is of the fIowery
order. like the country, and partakes of the
same ideas of establishment as their art.
1t is much like the operate music of the
present day ,th at is adorned with numerous
trills that are assumed with the pleasing
little deception of hiding lack of feeling or
faults in execution. Miss Mason illustrated
her meaning by singing a beautiful little
lullaby in Hindustani, and. after it, trans
lation of the song in English.
OF the many delightful little airs, this
lullaby was the most appreciated which
might have indicated Il decided laaning Of
the audience toward the "fiowery'' style
that had just been condemned, il it had
not been for the captivating rhythm that
lay in the words, that, when translated,
lost half their charms. There was some-
thing apart from the music, in the soft
sounds of the words, that finds no counter
part in the English tongue, that coaxed to
sllmber and contained those lulling caden-
ces that seemed perfectly adapted to a
cradle song.
Miss Mason left her sympathetic audi
ence with general desire for more. and a
wish that some description OF French, Ger
man, English and American national music
that was described as belonging to a
neutral scale of minor and major chords,
might be given in the near future.
The entries for the Southern Pacific race
meet at Santa Monica on the ODD are be-
ing received rapidly, and promise the larg-
est number Of starters in lhe various events
yet seen. The prizes are all on eNh bition
in Tufts-Lyon Arms Co.'s window, eXcept-
ing the medals for the mlitory novice
race, which will be completed next Tues
day.
A meeting of hack and eXpressmen was