The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-01

for material things in the average man
and it is the average man who sings and
sometimes makes the folk-song. Hence
the songs of the people haze rema ned thu
I Scotch, English, or Irish songs broug t
from the old country. or. as the people
grew out OF these, crude attempts at mi
tation of an older civilization have taken
their place. The simple, elemental emo
tons nave no place in the average Amer
can villagers song book. He DOES rot
sing Kathleen OMoore" or Ca the
Yowes to the Knowes." He has got pat
the simplicities of lifc-or he thinks SO.
The same thing is 10 he seen in the half
educated peasant of Europe.
The love songs and dirgcs Of the old
country. then. have not survived the COM
bined religious and social eond, nm ton
OF the new American. In the early yeals of
the national development, there was a
widespread disposition. on the part Of
clergymen and religious fox gen rally. to
condemn most secular music aloeg with
dancing and card playing. Ulde- the
weight of this condemnation the singing
dance. But human nature had TO lave an
outlet, and after one generation had
passed, and nothing had come to take the
place of the old-time jigs, glses, and her
light music. the gospe, hymn
makers arose and put the jig into the
hymn book, and introduced what they
called cheerful religion, brought into
daily life.
They sang with the zest OF vaudeville
singers; and their clerical associates talked
with the Lord colloquially. Repressed
youthful human nature welcomed the
chance TO sing something lively, unfrowned
upon by relatives and friends; and the
prayer meeting became actually popular.
How much religion there was in all this,
the dispassionate observer can determine
There was money-for the hymn writer's
The religious novels of lady who called
herself "Pansy'' advertised the Chautauoua
Assembly as no camp meeting was ever
before advertised. and along with it We're
doomed the Gospel Hymns" There were
perhaps half dozen really tuneful songs
in the first volume of these ditties; but as
numbers three, four. five. and six appeared
it became evident that inspiration was be-
ing worked hard. There was poverty of
ideas in words and music both. This music
owes its popularity partly TO the causes
mentioned ut filed an aching void, partly
to the fact that almost anybody can play
it. and partly to the delicacy which many
persons feel toward attacking anything,
however bad art it may be. or however
lightly 1t may speak of sacred things. il
ii only happens TO be labeled gospel" |
There are people who would eat gospel" |
canned beef if it We're recommended by !
their clergyman and would resent any con-
domination of the article on the ground that |
the name and the fact that it was sold by |
good man made it sacred
1t is improbable however. that this |
music will have any great influence over
the musical development of the country.
1t is not sincere enough. for one thing, |
and the real musician instinctively shuns |
and abhors it. In time it may be replaced |
by the really stately and beautiful older
hymns.
The European, If asked what American
music was like. would at present mention
two types. One would be the gospel hymn,
for the Cooks tourists who flock to Europe
sometimes insist on singing these songs
when they happen 10 be congregated any
where on Sunday. and anyone who, with
'inaccustomed ears has heard an average
party Of tourists with a little less than
phi ba |
Shore" is not likely to forget II. The
other type of American" songs with which
the European especially the Englishman,
Is familiar, are the negro melodies, made
known TO him by stray parties of jubilee
singers and minstrel shows. The Amer
can lover Of music can put Swing Low,
Sweet Chariot and Roll, Jordan, Rolf
alongside of Ring the Bells of Heaven
md Throw Out the Life Line" and choose
which he would like to have representing
lin in the foreign musical world. These
ongs typify two distinct types Of music.
ach popular with several millions. of peo-
lie. the negro "spirituals,'' unfortunately,
etreating before the insistent advance Of
fell- meaning missionaries armed with NO.
- Bur oven the debased form OF negro
lelody known as the coon song" and
eneraIly written by white vaudeville COM !
osers. compares fairly well with such
titles as FIX Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
s for the sentiment 1t is a little diff +,
llt to see where there is any religion in ,
ijurations to be washed in the blood Of I
he Saviour The image presented is GER I
linly not pleasant: and it is not recorded
nywhere in the Gospels that such proc
SIS is even metaphorically necessary to ,
aviation. The opinion of an educated Hindoo 9
n this subject would probably be that such
hymn was barbaric. The music GER
ainly is worse than barbarous.
Mob Rule and Civilization.
Lillian Bell in q recent book Of travels,
eclares that the most impressive thing /,