The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-12-12

In the music of Ireland We find the
expression OF her national sentiment.
1t has been described as the "truest
of all comments on our history" The
voice Of Ireland speaks through 1t.
and her every mood finds expression
lin turbulent and soft, passionate
and tender, defiant and Respondent. 1t
shows a people strong in character,
truthful and sincere.
Ireland has given many great and
gifted poets to the world. OF these tho
greatest and most popular is Thomas
Moore. He was born in the year 1879.
and died in 1852. He found the music
OF the country fast dying out and he
revived it. He was like the bards of
old, a poet and musician, adding to
the music of ancient times all the
graces of an advanced civilization. and
| invoking the ancient airs of Ireland to
aid the cause Of liberty and Justice.
He Joined the Irish music to English
words. and SO introduced it into dis
tant countries. His songs have re-
sounded wherever the English tongue
is spoken, and the genius of our coun-
try has been extolled in every land.
To him, above all others, we owe the
preservation Of our ancient music, and
It's redemption from base and vulgar
uses to be our most refined accom-
plishment.
Even during the last century what ar
amount of dramatic. lyric, and Lallad
poetry Ireland has contributed to the
worlds lyric wealth.
Thomas Davis has done much for
our music and song. He wished for
a ballad history of ireland, and he
himself did much for it. Some people
consider him better poet even than
Moore. Some of his best-known poems
AREA Nation Once Again." 1.-THE
Dear Old 10 lgue," and "She is Rich
and Rare Land His style of writing
is always simple, and the feeling which
he expressed in his poems gave him
a great influence over the people. His
poetry is full Of grace and tenderness,
which makes him great favorite.
Charles J. Hickman also wrote some
beautiful ballads. They all breathe
the same spirit-love of liberty and
hatred of the English rule.
The songs of our land have often
been doomed to die, yet Ireland has
preserved them through centuries Of
sorrow and persecution. "A priest, q
bard, and wolf" were what the Eng
lish Government hunted down and
wished to destroy. Those who desired
the downfall Of the Irish race forbade
the people to entertain the bards,
whom they considered as dangerous
fellows who not only influenced the
Irish, but made the English settlers
more Irish than the Irish. But in
! spite Of these circumstances these
/ glorious bards whose names adorn our
history's pages sang fearlessly Of Ire
land, its beauties, it's joys, and it's sor-
rows.
No other country has suffered so
much persecution as our own: vet
through it all she proudly defended her
faith. her nationality, and her songs,
and when she shall gain her freedom
her proudest possession shall be the
songs and ballads which she has pre-
served from the earliest ages.
The ancient bards laboured to r1ain-
tain the national life of their country,
and it was the spirit of their songs that
kept hope alive in the hearts of the
people, The martial strain urged on
the soldiers to glorious deeds. It STEEL
ed the weakest hearts to the most
courageous bravery and undaunted
heroism.
ooh, glorious songs,
That rouse the brave against tyrant
wrongs,
Resembling near and far,
Mingled with trumpet and with drum,
Your spirit-stirring summons came
To urge the hero from his home
And arm him for the war"
Irish music-"the peasants hertz
AGES handed down from the re-
hottest ages, for it is such as lives in
the hearts Of the people. Even before
Ireland became Christian the people
We're passionately fond of music and
songs, and at every assembly and pub
lie meeting the harpers and bards were
to be found. and they were held in
very high esteem and ranked next to
the king.
The MINISTRIES were feared and rever-
enced by the Irish people, but they
were mercilessly hunted down by the
English tyrants. Their glory was
swept away in the time Of Queen Eliz-
abeth, when she ordered them all to
be put to death.