New-York tribune., 1910-05-22


ton that when composers have
achieved gterisieallv American style IN fnuSl-
cal expression. The foundation thereof will be the
melodies Of the southern negro The HYPOTHESIS Is
interesting and ] among the many inclined 10
subscribe to Il until q concert tour through South
africa gave me splendid opportunity tor close
study Of the musical suscepubilItles OF the semi
sage brother i our Southern daTky- The eXperl-
e7e taught me lhat musical theorists were Ilght
lny II part
The term Kai- IS applied generally TO the semi
CIVILIZED black Africa whether Zulu, Ba5uto. or
tmgo found this people virginia. IN music, but on
lie point Cf beng corrupted through contact with
int ever enCruacg horde OF whites. Thus 70 come
u contact with the primitive music OF an almost
trnltITt Tca-r WAS not only d delight but an IN
siratlon. ] learned from them how those who hNe
Close % Aatur are conscious OF the universal law OF
harmony and seek bring IL into expression IN thelr
OWE affairs hy .aa},ing music the most important
clement n the taal of their daily lives. 1t meant
much to me -a learn that music had lar higher
>gnihcance I. the savage than TO civilized man,
MO regards j d mere diversion or accomplish
nrnl
The savage a.-ea1ed 10 me in new light when
discovered thas these superbly built hatlTS, with
.oJay SKIN and iocile. dOglike eyes, had souls at
.-ned 70 some. NJ higher than mere animal alole
mes tor eating. drinking, and fighting Shakes
teares oft quoted line Music hath charms TO
s'lhe the breast was revealed to me as a
1a ersal tru-. lcn as frequently occurred during
--t travels ] found a half-nude native standing for
..'u-s WlthDu, ,ly easement window" listening 10
NE sound OF rrr- ztolin His knowledge Of English
s-eech arnour-el doubtless to d vague understand
ing calico kltchcn-hafr adapted to hlS l11ll1-
- - peTcepiion- but the language OF music spoke
~ nm IN dire. and intellishe terms
&. I4lTlate o.---sa alton soon revealed thaI lheSE
-sekS were csIv responsive not only TO beauty OF
una but also 10 beauty Of color and beauty OF
ltlS estAe-lc susceptibility 10 color, contour ana
'dy amounts IN my opinion. to a racial instinct
sAong the blacks These are the Things IN Nature
5I @ appeal mgt strongly to primitive peoples; but
~ inherent has been the response IN the various
0Nes Malay and MOngOl for example. are as suS-
.Ioe 70 sound as the Ethiopian but in neither the
-sosllon Ot The beautiful in sound, nor IN the
f'ne1l Of tAeir initiative expression OF IT. are
~'E On the same esthetic plane the black man
Nature the Great Teacher
5N The color scheme Of his marvellous bead"oTk
T. @aa straw plating the kafir boTrOws inspiration
- me heaf ems or the myriad hued WHO Ilo"S1
1-ech The great treeless karOOS. Ana from IlIe
"A PHds o the }0rDidding hills he steals the secret
s,s persuasive music. Nature Is has only book'
-, - iei be turns for instruments when ms mn
ti4 - prompts HIM TO reproduce the Ineiodlc9 ~
S OF the softer music OF the whispering Mlllu9
g. tFllng water. His musical instruments, there
W. se mellow toned and sweet, beng mace oe
sf, ~ bamboo gourd Especially calabash); ana ol
tfC' 'Ihng STRIPS OF horn; while his melodies iihS
c. VI Lhe ieathtTcd creation acquire competing
lion i'O ON monotDnOus iteration and Te1teTa-
Isl, en- The intervals Of his barbara sCale
and 5 h can be called are Of such indefinite r
t9q,ol.' e character that they may luStiy pe
Of tbe e.t e. - have Their prototype IN the throat 4
1b4 much do sounds Of a gentle nature ravlah
dapc;a,@ u the native African that he dons a
pefIin8 belt ot large dried shells filled with >
add 'nss, w. winch he strings together like beads
shaw "Ilas about his waist. The lovable rick
0y ogS' curlDusly and galdily costuned
stocl,sS stol5a,s ana feathers their heads, imaginary y
iae LIZ laa oi amazing pattern painted on Their
aud .r - s. weave these dancing belts for anklets
SErjnolT l.ey loI'e along in imitation Of the native
oO'A' Dragging their human load alter