The Washington times., 1901-12-22


o,-er noetry and the sister arts. CON
cert. so called in accordance WIN 'hs
two Latin words. ''con, together ana
..certaro.- TO strive. signifies the com
bined efforts of several persons Tor inc
attainment of desired end; not excln-
sively In connection with music, but APP
plicable 10 any form Of human endeavor
Thus 4 number OF individuals may be said
10 "sct in concert in various ways; but
n so-called concert given by one ana
the same musical performer is misno-
mer.
Cnntata and Orntorio.
The word "cantata.' denoting poem
usually sacred. set 10 music, and rem
dered by two or three principal vooalists
with the assistance Of choral and instru-
mental Accomplishments, is Italian, de-
rived from the Latin "canere," to sing.
oratorio received its name from the initial
performances Of this species OF sacred mu-
steal drama in the oratory or church be
longing to the reliEius order Of the orato-
rlans, founded at Rome, by st. Philip
Neri. in the year 1870. opus is the
Latin word for work, labor; while opera
expresses the Latin for a great work.
Various Forms OF Opera.
The opera is usually described as the
lyric drama, in allusion 70 the lyra, now
known as the Tyre. the stringed insiru-
ment upon which the arcient poets ac-
companied their songs. \ comic opera.
from the French opera comique is not
necessarily comic, provided the music be
of light and cheerful character and the
action does not encroach upon grand
opera by the employment OF tragic Incl
dents
In church music an antiphon. so called
from the two Greek words ANTE, ="
against. and "nhonos," voice. expresses
a series of choral responses. whereas an
anthem, evolved cut of 'antiphon," is
sung by the entire congregation. Hymn
is a contraction of the Latin hymnus,
song OF praise. and psalm OF the Greek
psalmos. q sacred song.
The term "canticle." derived from the
Latin ''cauticulum," the diminutive Of
canticum, a song, claims the same origin
as chant" which comes from "cantare."
The chant was the earliest form OF song.
owing TO the Hebrew temples beirg of
vast extent and open 10 the sky. i Was
necessary. therefore. in order to make the
voice travel from the worshiDers 10 the
priests, and vice versa. TO pitch il in j
higher key, with the result that the mcn-
otone style OF delivery became firmly eS
tablished as the most suitable form CT
reciting prayers in chorus.
The Grego-ian Chant.
The Ambrosian chant is development
OF the original form OF the chant by st.
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, in the fourth
century; and the Gregorian chant 4 fur
Their development Of the Ambrosian. in
troduced by Pope Gregory in the year
$50.
The madrigal owes its name to the
Greek and Latin '-madra," herd OF cat
tie, because this was originally pasto-
raj song; and the glee to the Anglo-Sax
CLEO, a term alike Indicative of joy and
song. There is very little difference be-
tween a catch and a round. Both are
part-songs in which the singers COM
WIN anu dDDdT-
emily strive to overtake one another with
out success.
With regard to musical instruments the
word organ is a contraction OF the Latin
organum derived from the Greek or
canon; while harmonium. the designation
OF modern instrument OF the reed kind,
has been derived from the Greek and
Latin harmonic, concord OF sounds. EK-
actly in the same manner the melodeon
has reference TO melody, the dulcimer 10
sweet melody uatin '-duicis," sweet, and
Greek ''melos," song, and the concer-
tina TO a concert.
Evolution OF Pinpoforte.
The pisnoforte was so denominated ow-
ing to the facility with which the execu-
tant may impart piano, the Italian for
soft, and forte, loud or strong, express
sion TO its notes at will. The invention
OF the pianoforte. according TO the mod
orn pattern. is attributed to Father
Wood, an English monk in Rome, in the
year III.
Earlier instruments OF the pianoforte
kind were the clavichord, so-called from
the Latin claws" a key, and "chorda," :"
a string: the yirginals, originally played
upon by nuns in converts when accom-
panying hymns to the Virgin; the spinet.
popular with unmarried females. or SPINS
ter5. as a relaxation after their cccupa-
tion at the spindle. and the harpsichord
SO called because Ii vas in the shape vf
q harp.
Harp" is contraction Of the Latin
''harpa land the Greek "hafpe." a sickle.
In nllusion 60 The original curved shape
Of this instrument. The aeolia:, harp re-
ceiyed iLs name from Aeolus the god of
the winds. whereas Jews harp is nothing
more than a corruption of Jaws harp"
so styled or account Of its being held
the teeth.
Guitar and Violin.
The guitar and the cithern. respec-
lively, trace their names to the Greek |
l1ithara" and the Latin "cithara" The
word mandolin is a northern modifica-
ion of the Italian "mandola" the proper
Of this instrument Banjo is /
/ corruption Of bandore, the modern form |
1f the Greek '-pandoura," so called be- /,
,ause this instrument was supposed TO |
nave been invented by Pan.
Violin Is short for the Italian viollno. !
he diminutive of viola. which denotes |
he larger violin. and yioloncello is the |
iimingtive Of yiolone. OF bags yiol. The |
'eason why violin bears The further ap- |
'ellation OF nddle is because the German |
lamc Of this instrument is iicdel. de- \
lived from the Latin iidicalus. the diminu-
I've OF Gdes. stringed instrument.
Cremona violins are such as were made /
'y Andrea Amati or Antonio stradivarius /
" Cremona, In Italy. Existing specimens /
" the work OF these two celebrated yio-
in makers. respectively. bear the names /
Il Amau and StradiyaIius
Woods and Reeds.
The Gute was originally named a,.-r
he 6uta. a species Of eel found IN the
iicilian waters, whose sides are marked
v.th seven spots corresponding to the