Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-07-08
How tohiSten to Music
BY ARLIE BRADLEY.
Observation-Disclosures

There are many subjects under music
which we all are to certain extent
familiar with, as the "biographers OIL
its masters" 1.-The Development OF
"mediaeval music" but not many give
the subject of "how to listen to music
much thought. Maybe because it does
not seem as though this is one OF any
great importance, taking it for granted
that "to listen, is to heal" However,
the proper capacity to listen to music
is better proof Of musical talent than
skill to play upon any instrument or
to sing acceptably. 1T does more Tor
that gentleness and refinement OF
thought and action, which 1t is the
province of music to promote. VI all
the arts, music is practiced most and
thought about least. One reason is,
that sweet mystery enshrouds the
nature of music, and that to master
it technically alone costs a vast
amount of time, patience and industry.
Music is dual in its nature; it is ma
terial as well as spiritual. The mater
ial side we apprehend through hear
ing. comprehend through intelligence;
but the spiritual side we reach by
fancy and imagination. A true mu-
stefan will recognize in every selec-
ton the three decisive elements of
music-harmony, melody and rhythm.
Simply explained. harmony is well
ordered series of tones; melody, the
ordered tone of series, and rhythm.
the symmetrical grouping of the series.
Beyond doubt, melody is the most i'm
portant of the three. The master is
the one who has the genius to put
fire, passion, poetry and expression
into his compositions-to make them
seem living things. Of all those who
have been able to do this, Beethoven
has led. Like Goethe, this genius has
secreted many mystery in his master
pieces, but divine talent shows itself
in every tone. and the secret only
charms.
To listen to music, to appreciate it,
we must first know something of its
divisions. Of these, there may be said
to be four; chamber, programme,
classic and romantic. The first Sec
ton represents pure thought, lofty
imagination and deep learning. Com
posers find it the finest field for the
display of their talents, because their
own skill in creating is to be paired
with the trained skill in hearing. Prop
erly speaking. the programme music
is applied to descriptions. emotions
and poetic inspirations; and in high
sense this class is the purest music in
the world Schumann. Beethoven,
Mendelssohn and List were lovers of
the programme. But, among all terms
in music, are words of no wagner mean
ing than classic and romantic, although
all have a general idea of each.
Summed up very briefly, we may say
that the classic is that style of music
strictly adhering to all the established
rules of harmony and counterpart, re-
CARELESS of poetry or expression of
tone, and that the romantic is merely
the progressive and creative principle
of the classic style.
AS the highest type of instrumental
music, we have the symphony. a term
taken from the Greek (symphonia).
This, if it be written for solo instru-
ment. becomes sonata, or if written
for an orchestra, concerto. The SYM
phony is made up of four parts: a.
the allegro, quick movement. which
may be preceded by an introduce
ton or prelude, (2) the adagio,
a slow movement. g. the scherzo,
a playful, jocose movement, az the
finale, usually called the rondo, which
repeats the chosen theme several times.
and which may be introduced by trio.
Another interesting form of older
instrumental music is the serenade,
which is simply group Of short
pieces, arranged agreeably. This style
belongs to the days Of chivalry."
when gallant knights serenaded their
fair ladies. This form of composition
was followed by the Clique, the Minuet
and the Gazette. With the old mas
tiers, as Bach Beethoven and Chopin.
came into existence the prelude,
etude. nocturne and the symphony.
Later, another style of composition be-
came famous, known as LISTS Hun
garian Rhapsodies. These works will
always live, on account Of their weird,
dreamy and romantic construction. as
we'll as the technic and skill required
in their execution.
A few short years and grand opera
reached a state of perfection, through
the wonderful genius of Gounod, Mo-
Fart. Verdi and Meyerbeer Who has
not heard of Gounod's Faust" Mo-
zart's Marriage of Figaro" and "Don
Giovanni" Verdi's I'll Trovatore" and
Meyerbeer's "Huguenots" and "The
Prophet?' These grand works will
never perish; they are too great In
choral music, the names Bach, Handel |
and Haydn stand first. What could |
be more beautiful than "The Messiah"
"The Creation" and "The Passion
Music?"
Surely the poet who said Emusic is
the gift of heaven" was correct, for
what art is so pure, so true, or so
and sublime as music? |
What can be as beautiful as its master
pieces when performed perfectly? Yes,
surely music is divine, for it is the |
highest of all things.