The Washington herald., 1909-05-23
INFLUENCE OF MUSIC
Ancients and Moderns Carried Away by Melody dy-Some
Illustrations from History
Br RUDOLPH DE zAPP.

by RUDOLPH DE ZAPP.
An international congress OF music IS
being held in Vienna. and this oogntry's
interests IN the matter VIII De taken
care Of BY Oscar 6. Sonneck. chief OF
the Bureau OF Music OF the Library Of
/ Congress, who has been appointed by
the state Department as American repre-
sentative. Mr.. sonreck left for Austria
about a week ago.
The history which music PLAYED in the
history OF the world IS as varied as Il
| Is interesting. and q few remarks on
the subject viii prove o. interest AZ this
time
Music was the especial art of the Eliza
/ bethan days. IN every household there
was the love Of music, and In many
| families i was cultivated as an essen
tial part Of education The plain tune
OF the church did net unfit the people
/ for the madrigals OF the fireside-exquis-
/ tie compositions. which tell how much Of
/ the highest enjoyments Of refined taste,
/ belong 10 an age which We are apt 20
| consider inferior 10 our own in the amen
tiles OF life.
/ OF music as a political power history
records that in 1857 Lord Wharton pub
I ushed q song ridiculing King James II
/ and Trconneu. the lord deputy The
/ whole army" says BUrneL and az last
/ people OF both city and country were
/ singing e perpstuaily." Wharton after-
| ward boasted that he had rhyned James
4 ont OF his dominiOns- He had produced
/ a song Ike many other songs. OF Won
/ drous popularity, with little intrinsic
/ merit. Il vas whistled and sung IN every
i street in 16SS.
Music as a necessity IS also mentioned
/ in the pages OF history. GeIimer, the
j King Of the Vandals, in Africa sought
/ refuge from the Romans on an inacces-
/ sic mountain II Numidia- From me
/ nove-tv OF the rude M0ors he greatly
/ suffered. Pharas, one OF the Roman gen
erals. urged him BY letter 70 accept lle
/ c9emency OF the emperor. I an not n
sensible" replied the King OF the van
sals how kind and rational Is your al
vice. But I cannot persuade myselI 70
become the slave OF an unjust enemy
who has deserved my inplacanie natTeo-
/ Him I had never injured either By word
/ ar decd vet he has sent against me. 1
/ Enoyy not from whence. + certain Belisa-
rius. whO has cast me headlong from 'lle
/ throne into this abyss o. misery JUS
! tinian IS a man. he is a prince Goes nc
/ ,.o+ .a,asd for himself a similar reverse
/ - fo-tuneg I can write no more, my
grief ooDresses ne Send me. i beseeeh
/ Won nv dear Pharss-send me Tyre
sponge. and a leaf of bread
/ From the Vandal messenger Fnsl.aS
was informed Of the motives OF tne SIN
zulsr request. II was long since ne
/ King Of Africa had tasted hreao' . oe-
| a,rxion had fallen on MS eyes, the e.leo'
I Of fatigue or inceSSant weeping, anu u1
wished 10 soIace the melancholy hours
by singing 70 the lyre the saa slcIy - -
I his own misfortunes. The humanity oi
/ pbarss was moved: he sent the three ex-
traordinary gifts
The Spartans were opposed to even lux
/ urv n sound. TimotheUs the Miieslan
was a celebrated Dithyrambic poet anG
musician He added even a twelfth
string to the harp. for which ne was Sc
verely punished by the sage spsr'ans,
who concluded that luxury Of sound
would efeminate the people
The Puritans we're OF q somewhat sinh
lar opinion. They held that sweet music
| ar FIRST deIiebteth the ears, but after
ward corrupte;h and deprave'n me
mind Music in strife Is illustrated oy
| Charles XII. He had feet oloeAaolls
the port Of Copenhagen and an army
laundering at its gates
.syyhat is that whistling coise l hear
\ overhead7' asked the King, as ne was
disembarking on the Danish shore
1T is the musket balls, sire said an
officer.
my music hencefOrth.
. Alcibiades looked upon music as undig-
nifed- In the course OF his ecucation
he willingly took the lessons Of his mas
ters but refused learning 70 play upon
the aute which he looked upon as
mean art and unbecoming gentleman
THE use Of the plectrum upon the
llvre.- he would say. has nothing IN j
thst disorders the features or form, but
a man is hardly 10 be known BY his most
Intimate friends when he plays upon the
f,,ts Besides. the Tyre does not hinder
tho performer from speaking or accom-
! psnvine II with a song. whereas the flute
! So engages the mouth and the breath
that il leaves no possibility Of speaking.
In Italy, writes Steele, a cobbler may be
heard working to an opera tune. and
there is not q laborer or hsndicrafi
man that, in the cool OF the evening, does
not relieve himself with solos and so
EnatRs." But, ~on the contrary, our hon.
est countrymen have so little inclination
to music that they seldom begin to sing
till they are drunk
/ OF Gen. Grant It was said that he die
not appreciate music. When OF his world
circlins tour he arrived at Bangkok. IL
Islam. A guard Of honor presented aTms