New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-29


Franchise In the winter OF iss-'os has
borne interesting and valuable fruit NJ.
Tiersot is librarian OF the Paris Conserva-
toire and an industrious writer on many
historical phases IN the art OF music. He
is also musical folk-orist of the serious
type. who unites hearty sympathy for his
subject with the scientific method of study.
After his return 10 Paris he published some
of his observations On The negro slave songs
OF the South in The Musician Later
he brought forward a collection of French
Canadian foik-sorgs which he had harmon
tied and which he collated in an ex-
tremely interesting manner with their
prototypes in Normandy and Brittany To
this collection more attention will be given
presently. The latest manifestation Of his
sctirity is seen in q brochure from the
press OF Breltkopf e. Hsrtel. entitled La
AasiQue chez les peuples indigenes de
rAmerique du Nord (Etats-Unis et Can
adal." which is reprint from the Journal
of the international Musical Society. II
is one Of the few studies which have been
undertaken from a proper point OF view
since DIR. Theodor Baker published his
thesis on the music OF the North American
Indians in 1852. Much has been written since
then, and much material collected: but
large part OF what has been written has
been rendered valueless by the infusion OF
sentimental personal equation, and a
large part OF the music which has been
collected has been discounted in the same
way. For the sake Of wider popular
knowledge il is pity that DR.. Baker wrote
in German and NJ. Tiersot in French. and
ooubly a pity that Nj Tiersot's French was
printed in Germany. 1t may not annoy.
though II may bewilder the readers of The
Tribune who have followed its jealous
ls bors in behalf Of folk-song in America
for many years past to read I'm list OF
Its articles such titles as Plantation Soup
AND Slave Soup in America" Inasmuch
as Mr.. Sonneck. chief OF the musical divis-
ion Of the Library OF Congress. supplied
NJ. Tiersot with this list. il is safe 10 say
that The Tribune's song was turned into
soup by the compositors Of Leipsic.
Not the least remarkable feature OF NJ
Tiersots pamphlet, and one that gives
81 great value 20 the musical folk
iorist Of the future who shall bring
scientific order out of the present
chaos. is the wide research which he
has made in the literature Of all phases Of
his subject This literature is fragmen-
tary and widely difused Thus NJ Tiersot
is able 10 begin his study OF Indian music
WIFI 3IoiaAieilS from A CndpIer on cannl-
balls from Montaigne's Essays and some
musical examples from Pere Mersenne's
Harmonic Cniverselle." published in 1881
Observations by the Jesuit fathers Iaiteau
Ops and de Charlevoix G74D preeede the
excellent little work which Dr Baker wrote
as thesis for his degree at the Leipsic
University (the first real scientific study
OF the subject, and then the author reaches
the later Canadian writers. among whom
NJ. Ernest Gagnon ito whom We owe an
admirable collection of French-Canadian
airs ALSO Is the most prominent. At Caugh-
napaga and other places the author heard
and noted many songs Of the Iroquois and
Hurons ard his transcriptions help 10
prove the theory put forth in The Tribune
long ago of the existence of one phrase
type in practically all the music of the
Indians. from the St Lawrence to the
Columbia rivers. except such Is has plainly
been modelled after the tunes of the white
people OF this. something more may be
said presently For the lroauois music N.
Tiersot relies chiefly on tunes noted by DR.
Baker and the writer of this review on the
reserves in New York State (Baker) and
Canada CKrehbieD. DR. Boas is his author
fly on music of the Northwestern tribes.
Miss Alice c. Fletcher and the late John c. !
Fillmore on that of the Omahas.
While pursuing his Investigations in
Washington Cwhere Mr.. Sonneck compiled
an extensive photography Of the subject for
him. VI. Tiersot came into contact with no
less an authority on Indian and negro
music than ex-President Roosevelt He in
te-Asted Mr.. Roosevelt with his discourse
on French folk-song. and the latter oi-
rected his attention III turn to the Collec-
s1,n Sfa1seF arm
tribes made by Miss Natalie Curtis. Then
the President Of the United States made
profound impression upon his visitor by de-
scribing a war dance Of some plains Ind
iens, which he had witnessed, and singing
.ts music. The words were the equivalent OF
The morning is come.
The wol-es satisted.
These words were repeated over and over
again with breathless haste on a single
tone, the movement becoming more and
more animated, the singers whirling
around until they fell down exhausted
Ferocious as these savages are in battle,
Mr. Roosevelt told NJ. Tiersot they are
naturally gentle and domestic. and love to
sing sentimental songs, which are not al
ways love songs. but are frequently ad-
dressed to mother or child.
NJ T!e-sot was also informed by his au-
gust authority that the musical instinct OF
the negroes OF the Southern States is
highly developed. TO illustrate which fact
he told OF having overheard a dialogue be-
tween e negro working in q field and one
who had stopped fl the road 10 greet him.
The first speaker began the talk with a
melodic cadence which the second adopted /
at once. and out of an ordinary dialogue !
there developed a duet. NJ Tiersot writes |
entertainingty and correctly about the |
slave songs of the South and also the |
songs popularity described Creole"
rome interesting examples of which he |
secured il New Orleans
The French-Canadian folksongs which 1
NJ Tiersot collected and harmonized are |
published by g. Schirmer under the title Of |
'fForty-four French Folk-songs and Vari- I
ants, from Canada, Normandy anG Brit !
teny. Collected and Harmonized by Julien 1
Tiersot, the English Transitions by Henry /
Grafton Chapman" NJ. Tiersot acknowl- |
edges his indebtedness 10 NJ Ernest Ga |
enon's ''Chansons Populaires Gu Canada" |
published in 1868. The new collection has |
rot supplemented the old as q scientific |
document, bur the arrangement Of the |
songs with piaroforte accompaniment gives |
II popular value which the earlier coffee 1
ton cid not possess. There is special in |
terest also il the collation. OF some Of the |
NH bav