The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-01
MUSIC OF THE ORIENT.
ANCIENT AND MODERN
Prof. Prince, of Columbia,
Lectures on the Subject.

The Washington Society of the Arch
aeIogicaI Institute Of America held the
first Of its series of technical meetings
last evening at the residence Of Mrs.
Herbert Wadsworth. 1901 Massachusetts,
Avenue A large number of ladies' and
gentlemen, members and invited guests
were present Among those who were
there from a distance were Prof
clement Lawrence smith. of Harvard
University: Prof. and Mrs. z. NJ Peasa
formerly Of Leland Stanford University.
Prof and Mrs F y. Hopkins. Of Har-
ward; Mrs and Mrs Joseph Clark Hon
pin. Of BTyn Mawr. and George Horton
Of Chicago The names Of a number Of
new members were announced. and If
was stated that the total number Of
life and annual members now approach
ed very closely to one hundred.
Prof. Princes Address.
The principal event Of the evening
was an address by Prof J. DyneIey
Prince Of Columbia University, New
York. on Ancient and Modern and
Oriental Music" Prof Prince is an
eminent specialist and authority in
oriental languages and antiquities. In
1883 he went to BabyiOnia with the
University Of Pennsylvania archaeology
cal expedition as the official representa-
tive Of Columbia University He was
for years the professor of Semitic
languages, and dean Of the graduate
school OF New York University. up to
I.. b
sor Of Semitic languages in Columbia
The address was profuseIy illustrated
by selections sung to the accompani-
ment Of the piano. Prof. Prince spoke
in part as follows.
"RbythmicaI information in a monotone
was probably the first music among
primitive peoples. As soon as man
reached d stage Of cultivation where he
was able to repeat his experiences to
his fellows to give an account Of his
own passions, or to tell Of the heroic
deeds Of others, the need must have
been felt Of a declamatory style.
method Of reciting which should not
only impress the words Of q tale on the
hearers, but also enable the reciter
himself 10 remember his =. me more
easily. This mnemonic style, which or
iginaUy only amounted 10 a system Of
accentuatiou Of the most impor sant
words in a story. was the beginning o.
what we now call rhythm. This was
probably only in a monotone at Hrst.
but later # was discovered, no doubt
accidentally. that an occasional inGec-
ton or tone variation would hold the
attention of the hearers more satfsfac-
torily Finally a distinct melody pro
ceeding from two to FIVE tones was
evolved, which became the foundation
for future modulations. Vocal music
was therefore the first form Of music
Evolution Of Instruments,
Instrumentation is a later develop
ment. Instruments Of percussion arose
first. no doubt having their inception in
original hand clippings OF striking Of
the breast. which would give rise to an
INSTRUMENT of the nature Of the drum
q. q. the hand drum OF tambour.ne,
The discovery by primitive man OF his
power to make a noise with his mouth,
which he was. perhaps, first impelled
TO do in imitation of the wind was.
in all likelihood, the first step toward
wind instruments The most simple
and most primitive Of these was prob
ably developed last of all They may
have been suggested by the twang Of
. gut bow-strIrg. which impelled some