New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-04
BEGINNINGS OF MUSIC.
RHYTHM THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION.
AND FOUND IN ALL PRIMI-
TIVE PEOPLE
MRS JOHN ELLIOTT CURRAN LECTURES on TIKI
MUSICAL ABILITY OF THE AMERICAN IND
IAN AND TELLS OF WHAT HE
HEARS IN THE THUNDER.

IAN AND TELLS OF WHAT HE
HEARS IN THE THUNDER
The first talk on THE Beginnings OF Music" was
given Wednesday morning by Mrs. John Elliott
Curran at the home OF Mrs Dwight Arven Jones.
No 10 West Fifty-third-st. The earliest char
acteristics OF music and rhythm were spoken OF.
and the showed her audience how historical
research had proved that rhythmlcal quality was
a distinctive characteristic OF the most primitive
music.
Every race" said Mrs. Curran. exhibits some
musical ability and there evidences OF certain
kinds Of prehistoric music. The savage hears IN
nature. in the thunder the roar or murmur OF
waters and the songs OF birds sounds that vaguely
speak impulse within himself He gropes Tor
the expression Of that impulse. and uses his voice
10 express Joy or woe. But this is not enough
medium for the more pronounced expression OF
sound IL necessary. and the vehicle for conveying
that sound H. sought and found In the nrst muSlca
instrument, the pipe. fashioned from reed. Inc
difference between music and mere sound Is In the
orderly sequence. The savage begins his rccogni-
ton Of rhythm by beatings which recur al certain
unconsciousy even periods for there is order in the
lowest In the highest form OF music. even though
there may be no harmony Muscular motion u the
first evidence OF response to musical concept Inc
savage who first noticed that the string upon which
he idly beating made better sound When
stretched across wooden bridge. spanned the
chasm between ssvagery and cultivation taking
mankind with him
The most primitive OF all musical instruments
seems TO be the rattle and the whistle, and II has
been found that the ancient Armenians used lutte
The beginning OF all harmonious SOUND 10, OF course
in the beating Of time the making Of rhythm Sir
Arthur Sullivan has said that in beginning COM
position he first decides on the rhythm and then
finds the melody. and Sousa often writes without
any melody. but always with great rhythm and hsf-
mony"
Mrs Curran gave several interesting illustrations
Of rhythm expressed as II might have been oy
savages in the beating Of TWO sticks sne asked
the audience to guess from the rhythm thus e1'
pressed what would be the tune she would AFTER
ward give upon the piano. Nearly every one recos~
OF the North American Indian music. ilusrauone
were given showing their manner OF interpreting
song a war dance and feasting songs. MIS- Cur
ran read from Miss Fletchers accounts or ner "ork
knowledge OF their musical efforts Miss rletohe,
found that in several tunes CONSISTING OF "na.
seemed unmeanng sounds, motive coula De- a. ss
distinguished. and when she ehpresseo Iae vsoiIy
sounds the piano she found them 10 De wnoly t
unrecognizable by the Indians themselves ana , 10,
until she had sung IN" tunes a. .ne P'ag.u ' ~
could they that the airs were thelr owl; ms ms
Indians 10 have the only naive niuslca taen.
found in North America for that disgUN sf5a ~
Mexico as well as the Esguimo music gives much
evidence of being initiative -. -..,,.,,,x =,
Mrs Curran concluded with the recounrns OF
what music was or rather was not, In the Puritan
DAYS when IL almost considered SIN 20 sing.
She gave the 1--WE familiar hymn tunes which Tor
most Sabbath worship. Mrs. fsnos sHhG Loun y,
these to Mrs Cyrrans &c, Msrtyr. and
are known as YORK 81 Mary = 'A'''' MA
Among those present yesterday were Mrs. Fred
shall c. LefYerts Mrs Barstow 7 smith Nrs'
Hugh A Camp Mrs Leffsrts sreoeg2 bs M next ak
i S ai,u On Eebrtary and will be The
Primitive Music OF China. Greece and Russia