The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-17

II is not to avoid the maledietion of
Shakespeare upon the man that hath no
music in himself. nor is not moy'd with
concord of sweet sounds" that 1 profess
to be fond of husic; but because l am. in
truth, extravagantly fond of 1t. But l am
not fond of French music; and as for the
Italian I think that any one who will
dare to in1ict it upon an American ear
ought to be sent to the penitentiary
without a trial 1t is true that some Of
the simple national French airs are very
fine: but there is not one in thousand
Italian tunes, simple or compound, which
is not manslaughter. The German COM
positions are decidedly the best from the
continent of Europe; but even these are,
of late, partaking so much of the vices of
France and Italy that they have become
scarcely sufferable. AS yet, however.
they may be safely admitted into land
OF liberty and sense. Scotland has es-
caped the corruptions which have crept
into the empire of music, and, conse-
ouently her music recommends itself.
with irresistible charms to every ear
which Is not vitiated by the senseless
rattle of the continent. Ireland is a lit
tie more contaminated; but still her COM
positions retain enough of their primitive
simplicity and sweetness to entitle them
TO the patronage of all who would culti-
vate a correct taste in this interesting
department of the fine arts. 1 would not
be understood as speaking here without
any limitations or restrictions; but | do
maintain that, with some few exceptions,
all of the soul of music which is now
left In the world is to be tound IN SCOT
land or ireland.
Rut Germans Frenchmen and Italians
are decidedly the best-that is. the most
expert-performers in the world. They
perform all over the world. and IN oraer
70 exhibit themselves to the best adYan-
tage they select the most dlulcuIt ana
complicated pieces The people at large
nreslime that the best performers must
be the best judges of music, ana must
make the best selections; they therefore
Soreeo the trouble of forming an opinion
Of their own, and pin their faith upon
the decisions, or rather the practee, VI
the amateurs. 1t was somehow in this
nav 7 presume, that the fashlonapie
music OF the day first obtained currency.
Having become prevalent. 1t has become
toIerable. lust as has the use of tobacco
or ardent spirits. And. While upon TINS
head 7 would earnestly recommend TO
the friends of reform in our favored eouh-
try TO establish an "Antl-mad-inusic o.
ciety" in order to suppress II posslple'
The cruelties of our modern musical enter
tainments.
II the instrumental music of France
and italy be bad, their vocal music Is, II
possble a thousand times worse. Nelther
the English nor the Georgia language 1ur-
nishes me with a term expressive OF the
horrors of a French or Italian song as II
Is agonlzed forth by one OF their pro-
fessed singers. The law should make |.
iustifable homicide in any man 10 XII
an Italian in the very act of inf1ictlng
the refined American
ear
And vet. with all the other European
denominations which have crept into our
highly favored country, the French ana
italian style of singing and playing mas
roade its way hither: and it is not uneom-
mon to hear our boarding school misses
piping away, not merely in the style, put
In the very language, of these hatiohs.
This can bear very we'll IL there happen
70 he a F'renehman or an Italian present
because l know that he suffers more
from the words than I do from the
music, for I confess that upon sueh
occasions feel something Of the savage
ralignity which visits the sin OF ma
ton upon any of its citizens. But II
most frequently happens that l am put
TO the tortures of which l nave peeh
speaking without this mitigation. l.
was thus with me few evenings ago ae
Mrs BIS party
Tea had been disposed OF, and the non,
sensical chlt-chat of such occasions had
begun to flag. when I invited Miss Mary
Williams to the piano. She rose promptly
at my request without any affected airs
and with no other apology than that she
felt some diffidence at playing In the
presence of Miss Crump," The piano was
an admirable one, and its tones were ex-
ouisitely fine Mary seated herself at 1t,
and. after a short but beautiful prelude
she commenced. one of Burns's plaintive
songs. to a tune which was new 10 me-
mi which was obviously from the poets
own land. and by one who felt the in
sniratjon of his verse. The composer and
the poet were both honored by the per-
former. Mary's voice was nlmitaoly