The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-04

the memory in bringing back scenes Of
the past equal to melodies belonging to
that far-off period. And the associa-
tions with these melodies may some
times be unpleasant L remember in
my student days bringing home a new
piece of music q think it was Hen
selt's 'Liebeslied'D and commencing
to play it ON the piano. A gentleman
who had the room next to mine
knocked on the door and asked me if
would kindly never play that piece un-
less ! knew that he was out. This was
very surprising to me, as he was Il
musician himself and could have no
objection to the piece in itself. Half
banteringly, / began to play it again
az another time in his presence, think
ing that, perhaps. it had been a mere
whim before. He became very much
agitated and l promised never to play
it again. | learned afterwards the
story connected in his memory with
the piece and respected his reason for
not wishing to hear it.
But to come back to hymn-tunes.
To this plan of having each hymn with
its own particular tune some one VIII
probably raise the objection that
there will not be tunes enough to go
round Probably not. | am of the
opinion, however, that the composers
who have the ability to write good
hymn-tunes are not all dead yet. Be
sides. our hymn-books have more
hymns than are necessary. There are
many hymns that will not bear
close investigation either from d
doctrinal or a poetical standpoint.
Good old Doctor Watts I'M one of his
hymns says:
Great God! how infinite art Thou,
What worthless worms are We!
Now l submit that this is not good
theology. We are not worthless
worms. The Bible says that Thou
hast made man a little lower than the
angels; Thou crowncdst him with
glory and honor, and didst set him over
the works of Thy hands" Worms in
deed.
Simultaneous with the wedding out of
undesirable hymns, characterless and
weak tunes should share a similar fate
and their places taken by tunes that
bear the same relation To music that
the hymns should bear to the highest
, and hOliest utteranCeS Of which the
human heart is capable.
AS this answer has taken the form
OF an essay and has already reached a
formidable length | shall be obliged
to defer other phases of this subject
until next week
o
q. o.. Who is the greatest COM
poser living?
Answer question is difficult TO
| answer. Since the death of Brahms
! opinions differ as to who deserves to
be called the greatest. If the question
! We're put 10 vote the favored one would
! probably be either Grieg, of Norway,
or Saint Saens, of France.
2,-Who is Americas greatest COM
| poser?
| Answer. er.-AmerCa's greatest cOmpos-
| er is unquestionably Edward MacDOw-
! ell, Mr. MacDowcll was born in New
| y ork city in 1861. He received his mu-
| sical education i'm Germany and was
! for some time connected with one Of
| the prominent German Conservatives
as teacher. Since his return to Ameri-
| ca in 1855 he has had an active part
in the nations musical life. He now
holds the position of professor Of music
in Columbia university, New York city.
3.--What are their most famous or
| greatest creators?
| Answer.-All three have written for
orchestra, string quartette, piano and
| other instruments, and songs Grieg
| and MacDowell are best known by
| their compositions for the pianoforte.
Geo. p, Secord, the we'll known con-
| tractor of ToWanda, n. Y, says: IT
| have used Chamberlains Cough Rem