The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-07
PRIEST AND
MUSICIAN
Father McLaugh-
Iin Lectures on
Music.
TALK VOCALLY
ILLUSTRATED
An interesting Event at the
Catholic Benevolent Society
Last Evening.

The musical lecture delivered by Fa-
ther J. T. Mclaughlin Of New York in
the rooms of the Catholic Benevolent So
ciety last night proved most entertain
ing.
The reverend father is of almost mill
tary carriage, apparently in the prime
of life; his hair is turning slightly gray.
with fiorid complexion and mobile,
clearly cut features. Singing, to his own
accompaniment. with equal facility, in
French, Italian, German and Latin. he
has rich, high baritone of peculiar
sweetness and great compass. the full
power of which was reserved, however.
last evening.
The Bishop of Panopolis introduced the
lecturer to his expectant audience, and
in fluent speech the lecturer proceeded.
"Monsignor. I am thankful to your
lordship for the invitation SO kindly ex-
tended me tonight to speak to these
dwellers in your beautiful Islands, for
a little while The subject of my talk
is one, am sure dear to all Hawaiian
hearts-music. In all the wide scope of
music's powers nothing appeals more
closely, more quickly to the very heart
strings than the folk songs of a country.
not even a thorough understanding of
the works of such masters sof harmony
as Wagner can assist in bringing out
our real feelings as these songs Of the
country. Music is the outpouring of our
natural expressions; we have all expe-
rienced the universal wish to compose
something beautiful when listening to
some well-rendered piece OF music. The
skI>
music, affects the human breast as no
other power can. The words are often
foolish as in Dixie with its lively mu-
sic and trashy words yet, thirty years
after the Civil War, the playing OF Dix
ie'' in a Southern community will arouse
an enthusiasm that shows the onlooker
that to them the music Of Dixie is a
melody attuned to their heart-strings
Il had the pleasure OF meeting Colonel
Roosevelt some time ago and he told me
of the power that music possessed
/ to bring back to his jaded soldiers the
| springy step and upright head. When
the troops Jagged, the present Vice Pres
! ident ordered the band to play, and the
time that sent them uphill in a quick
step was not Columbia not The Star
Spangled Banner, but 'There'll Be Hot
Time in the Old Town Tonight
| Even in the midst of business pass
ing band will set the foot to tapping,
the voice to humming, If it does not
draw US to the windows and doors. Even
an old cart horse will often prick up his
ears lift his head and cavort around
The speaker went on to speak of the
foundation of all good church music in
the simple harmonies of ST. Ambrose
and ST. Gregory in the fourth apd sixth
centuries, illustrating it with Salve
Regina of the eighth century in the time
of Charlemagne.
Outside of the church the oldest rec
ords of music come from ireland. Bigot-
ed historians have omitted the claims of
Ireland Scotland and Wales, and de-
clared in favor of the French trouba-
dours, italian troyateres and German
meistersingers, who in reality came hum
dreds of years after ireland was re-
nowned for it's music, its poetry and
harp. The ancient banner of ireland
bore the harp as the emblem of the only
land that dared claim 1t for her right.
Not all historians have sighted her
claims, however, as the witness of the
| eminent Montelambert will testify.
Eileen Aroon,' the melody which
Handel is said to have wished he had
composed rather than all his oratorios,
was sung as selection of the oldest OF
! Irish airs to the words OF Moore COM
mencing Erin the tear and the smile in
thine eye,' and was followed by The
Harp That Once Thro' Tara's Halls
Scotland, with an almost equally an
cient musical history, furnished as an
example The Land O. the Leal.'''
Father Mclaughlin commented on
the word Celt as applied to the Irish
and Scotch, a word meaning singer.
Italy was represented by Neapolitan
barcarolle and the well-known "Funiculf
Funicula,' the singer using the Italian
and translating for the benefit of his au-
dience.
Italy was named by the lecturer as the
modern nation that had advanced the
most among the more modern nations,
producing numberless folk songs.
America came last with Fosters "Su-
vance River and a pretty darkey lui-
laby, 'Doan You Cry, Ma Honey" Fa-
! ther Mclaughlin is not in favor OF rag
time, calling 1t disreputable music.
Mr. Alapai, accompanied by Father
yalentin. sang aloha Oe" for the ben
!. | eft Of the lecturer, and rising vote OF
thanks was then rendered to Father Nc
I.aughlin fer his entertaining lecture.
The priest returns on the next steamer
to the Coast, where he viii lecture at
stanford and at the Berkeley Deaf and
| Dumb Institute. Only one thing was
disappointing in Hawaii to the priest
musician-he found 1t too Americanized.
even trip to Hawaii not bringing out
the phases of inner native life and mu-
z,o that he had hoped To 6nd.