The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-21


The line of demarcation between secu-
lar and religious music. though inherent
in the music itself, is difficult to define
accurately. Some contend that church
music is totally different from secular
music, but D. Z. Hervey, in The Church
Eclectic (ApriD asserts that both sides
to the controversy are wrong, and that
the true idea is to be found in a judicious
mean. While Rossini's music is fertile
in beautiful melody, sound theoretical
knowledge, and mastery of effect, it is
evident, Mr.. Hervey observes, that his
religious music is strikingly inappropri-
ate. Such distinctions felt rather
than defined, and 1t needs no musical ed
ucation to mark the difference. But that
music and worship are bound closely to-
gether Mr. Hervey shows by tracing the
evolution from the earliest times, when
homage to god was accompanied by bar
earous sounds upon primitive instru-
nents. The Egyptians, Assyrians, and
Babylonians developed their music to
the utmost extent possible at that time.
Religious professions. when vocal and
/ instrumental music were important are
mentioned in the sacred books of the
| East, ceremonies III which "all the known
/ instruments were employed, combined
with the singing of odes." Mr.. Hervey
writes:
"A thousand years before the Christian
era the Persians formed religious process
sions in which they sang their prayers
and praises. The various religions
of India all employ music in their SER
vices of worship, and in the Buddhist
temples the choristers, clad in white
robes, are ranged down the sides very
much as in some Christian churches. :.
Even among the pagan inhabitants
of the Pacific islands the same general
t.-
of human sacrifices was accompanied by
the chanting of long prayers"
Everywhere music was looked upon as
the essential accompaniment of worship,
and this fact is not strange. thinks Mr..
Hervey, for music is the highest ex-
preston of the emotional faculties. and
true worship is thoroughly emotional" If
we turn to the Bible, he says, we shall
find innumerable references to music and
musical Instruments. In the Song of
Moses, in the Psalms of David, in pas
sages where we are told to sing unto the
Lord" the religious fervor and exalted
poetry are closely allied to music in the
sacred services.
And history carries us further back still
to the year $500 B. c., when Sargon the
Great ruled over the Akkadians, a re-
markedly cultured people, accounts OF
whose exploits have been preserved and
translated. Their hymns, psalms, and
prayers reveal the most exalted poetry
: some $50 strongly monotheistic that they
could be sung today, in the worship OF
Jehovah or Jesus. with little or no alter
ation," such, for example, as their pray.
er to the Mediator, which was chanted:
\ 20 Benefactor, who can escape Thy hail
' Thy will is the sublime sword witt
: which Thou rulest heaven and earth
: | commanded the sea. and the sea be
r came calm:
o I commanded lie flower. and the howe
k ripened to grain;
o / commanded the circuit of the river
V and by the will of the Benefactor
: turned it's course.
How sublime art Thou,
G What transitory being equal to Thee!
o Benefactor amongst all the gods,
Thou art the rewarder,
o Lord of battles!
Merciful One among the gods.
Generator who bringest back the dea
, to life!
Beneficent King of Heaven and earth,
II To Thee is the life of life,
Il To Thee belong life and deathr'
u From what has been said, it is clearl
" ship has been development, reaching II
IT elimination after ages of experimer
Y and growth" Church music, instead
t. being sensuously emotional, as 1t was
Is the Middle Ages, should aim at the exa
lie tation of the soul. Mr. Hervey conclude
C. by saying:
q, From the masses of Haydn and Nj
IS Fart, and their limitations, equally as beat
Id tiful and equally as inappropriate as II
i: works of Rossini already referred I
n church musicians have revolted and
lie new school has arisen that would resto
I'd to worship-music it's spiritual characte
j. This school is gradually gaining the a
X cendancy. and the time is certainly ne,
is when the ideals of the ancients will
IN renewed in our music for worship
ne