The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-17
SONGS OF THE EARLY CENTURY.
MIR. Louis G. EIsOn's Lecture on 700
Years of Music.

Mr.. Louis c. Elson delivered the second
Of the Y. NJ. c. \. star course lectures
at the Guards hall last night. His sub
jet, Seven Centuries of English Music"
was not only interesting, but also instruc-
tive. combining as it did. history, music
and literature; his explanations serving TO
clear up many obscure references in early
English authors, most notably in Shakes
peare.
Mr.. Elson began by quoting the old
adage, Let me but make the songs of a
nation, l care not who makes the laws"
The national spirit of a people being 50
closely connected with its songs, he gave
a short sketch of life in England, about
the thirteenth century, quoting from Will
lam Of Malmsbury and other monkish
writer's OF the period
Throughout the lecture Mr.. Elson sang
the songs and read poems, Illustrating
the various epochs. The early songs of
England, he said, differed from those of
all continental Europe; English songs be
ing written in the major mode, while in
other countrie minor melodies predominant
ed The first ballad sun, THE Story of a
Murdered Boy in Lincoln Town." was
written in 1856. The second selection, a
song Of Canute, was composer in 1917.
From the song of a knight of the Nor
man army who, before the battle of Has
tings, sang, tossing up and catching his
spear, we derive the modern drum ma
jor.
The well known song, 1--WE Won't Go
Home Till Morning" Mr.. Elson traced
through its various versions in America,
England and France, back to Jerusalem
where Is was sung in commemoration of
the death of a French Crusader, and
where it is still a popular air.
Likewise the words, Derry, derry
down. were traced to the Saxon hep
by scholars to antedate even that period
probably originating with the Druids.
The sacrihcial dance of the ancient sun
worshippers, appearing, slightly changed
in the Egyptian worship of the bull-gOd
and again in the Hebrew dance around
the ark Of the covenant, reaches the pres
ent games as Little Sallie Waters and
London Bridge"
Mr.. Elson also sang the Ath Psalm from
an Illuminated MSS. dating from about
$50. This MSS. was procured fro9 the
monastery at Chester and is very vaua-
bic.
THE organ" said Mr.. Elson, was in
troduced into France during the time OF
Charlemange. Being very crude, it was
played with the fists and elbows, instead
of the fingers; four-part music requiring
the services of two performers.
Briefly commenting on the open hostility
between the monks and wandering glee-
men, and the classification of musicians
with Migrants and vagabons, Mr.. Elson
passed to the time of Shakespeare, who,
he said, did more for music than any other
man, not a musician. Songs from Ham
let" "Othello" and Romeo and Juliet
were sung. Several anecdotes were told
of Queen Elizabeth and her virgil and then
came the music of the frolicsOme cavalier
and the purtant, "who took a keen delight
in being miserable The cavaliers rally
ing song and a puritant dirge were sung
by Mr. Elson and were warmly applauded.
The reign of the First Charles, who in
troduced nothing but dance music, which
he even attempted to force into the
church service, received a short notice and
was dismissed for the reign Of James II.
who was driven from his throne by
"Lilly-bolayrO, a tune composed by Per-
cell the greatest of earlier English must
clans.
The hit of the evening was the sizing
of "Carey's Sally in Our Alley"
Mr.. Elson is thoroughly conversant with
his subject, and has a fine voice. Through
out the lecture which was interspersed
with anecdotes and humorous remarks, he
was listened to with the greatest attention,
many being agreeably surprised to find, not
a treatise on thoroUgh-bass or counter
point but a bright, cheerful, and instruc-
tive lecture.