New-York tribune., 1910-06-26

wv Of America fOnQ OF lfle dSSeT-
ton that when our composers have
sclevei lce-lstcally American style IN 1nuS-
al expression The foundation thereof Will be the
melodies Ot the luthern negro. The hypothesis IS
Interesting, and ] was among the many inclined to
subscribe . 4. un-ll concert tour through oouth
atIca gave --e 4 splendid opportunity tor close
study Of the musical suSceptibilltles OF the semi
sage brothe-- + our Southern darky. The expert
enct taught mo that musical theorists were night
MY II part
The term k.-- Is applied generally to the semi
CIVILIZED BLACK Africa. whether Zulu, Basuto, or
-rg0 f0uu5 this people virginia. in music but on
lit point q being corrupted through contact with
.1e ever encraa-ng horde OF whites Thus TO come
70 contact E5-l -ne primitive music OF an almost
t1nItIve Ies. a was not only a delight but an IN
2.ratl0n- ] learned from them how those who live
-lse % Aa-e are conscious OF the universal law OF
harmony and seek To bring il into expression in their
1Tr affair t. liking music the most important
element n the ritual If their daily lives 1t meant
much 70 81. earn that music had Tar higher
sgnncance =. she savage than to civilized man,
mo regards - Il mere diversion or accomplish
--1t
The savage a.-ealed to me in a new light when |
discovered tfa- these slperbly built katlrs, with
.5lly skin and .acile dOglile eyes. had souls at
--2e1 10 some ug higher than mere animal appe-
Ties for ea-r. drinking and fighting. Shakes
.ea-e's oft .-.-eE line Music hath charms to
s'.,ne the savage breast was revealed to me as q
iii ersal trr--. hen as frequently occurred during
II. travels. ] .-.a6 half-nude native standing tor
ours wirh1-- --v easement window listening to
he sound Of r,- r-.oln His knowledge OF English
-r5ech a-nour-aE doubtless to q vague understand
- q So called Kitchen hafir adapted to hlS ll1-
= perception but the language Of music spoke
nm IN dre-- and intelligIble terms.
Intimate d.. ration soon revealed that these
-schs were He..-v responsive not only TO beauty OF
.'li1 but also 10 beauty Of color and beauty OF
& ms esl-5c ce11tibility TO color. contour ana
'-y amount IN 1nv opinion to d racial instinct
-l1g the blacks These are the things in Nature
S- appeal most strongly to primitive peoples. buI
~" oil,ereu- has been the response IN the various
- AalaE and MongOl for example, are as SlS-
-ole 10 sound The Ethiopian, but IN neltheT tile
sEPu'n q. The beautiful IN sound, nor IN lile
,.-eiaent oi their initiative expression OF 1t, are
'a The same esthetic plane as the black man
Nature the Great Teacher
[ * the color scheme Of his marvellous bead"ork
.- a1q straw plating. the hafr bOTows Inspiration
w.. IN tle hea ens or the mvriad hued WHO hoWtiS
- ceck The great treeless karOos. And from Ile
Il & os ot the foruidding hills he steals the secret
s-5 persuasive music. Nature Is ms only door,
~ Lef Ee turns for instruments when ms NM
teslesS prompts him 10 reproduce the meiodleS 9l
-qs 0r the softer music Of the whispering WllluS
t Pfllng water. His musical instruments, theTec
~ @5t mellow toned and sweet. being maze of
81, .hainJpo g0urd ESPECIALLY calabash) ana oi
rfe 5All8 strips of horn; while ms melodies me
O.. " Lle iea1hered creation, acquire competing
rlar ON monotonous iteration and Te1teIa-
H., !. en- the intervals Of his barbarIc scale.
s-s II can be called Of such indefinite
taJrrt+- c5-- e Character that they may Justly be
,ne songl5i-6 kx
Tie much Do sounds Of gentle nature raVish
dsrCt- a. u the native African that he dons 4
-efF1lg belt ot large dried shells filled with
aud ~: ~. winch he strings together like beads
zlsg "iiaa about his waist The lovable rick =
goya, curiously and gaudily costumed' g
1ri- li4I-9 ana feathers on their heads imaginary e
lare Ie4 o amazing pattern painted on their
and 81 weave these dancing belts for ankIets,
s-rnal iiey loEe along IL imitation Of the native
eD'A' dragging their human load alter