The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-04-09

praise for his efforts to place music
in its proper sphere. In order that
we may understand the musical sit
uation as it existed at the time of
bis birth. l quote you verbatim from
the Dominant: Instruments in
churches were regarded as profane,
pagan. popish idolatrous, dark and
damnable. Fanatical Puritans made
their way into the cathedrals, cut
down paintings, destroyed stained
glass windows, mutilated carvings
took down the organs and burned
them."
Into these conditions Purcell was
born and that he succeeded in giving
to the world such master pieces as
he did is indeed marvellous.
Palestrinia, an Italian during this
time wrote the Pope Marcello
Mass" then and now considered the
climax of ecclesiastical music.
The First Organ
The organ which had been inven.
ted during the latter part of the ff-
teenth century was at this time per-
fected and instrument makers gave
a new instrument to the world called
the harpsichord, a stringed instru-
ment with a keyboard, similar in
form to the modern piano. AS the
pressure of the fingers upon the keys,
when heavy or light made no differ
ence ID the tone, the harpsichord
had two banks of keys, one for the
loud and one for the soft tones.
From 1868 to lib, three men
Aniati, Stradivarius and Guamerius
brought into the world the perfected
violin, cello, viola and bass viol.
The violins made by these masters
have never been equaled and the
prices for which they have changed
hands are fabulous.
Kublic, the greatest violin virtuo-
so, the world has ever heard, has two
Strad's. one of which was presented
to him, and is valued at $l00 100000.
The most of the instruments made
by these masters range in price from
$3.50. to $4,000. The music
of this period was very much in ad-
HaRee HoW ewffhhg # h sSa6es gas for yfbHf
of instruments thus having larger
field upon which to work. During
the years from 1868 to 1900 came a
slow but sure evolution to music as
we now hear it. Turing these years
such immortal names as Purcell Lully
Scarlattie, Leo, Handel, Suppe and
the foremost master of them all,
Bach, were giving their works to
the world. Bach was the first writ.
er to make real strides in modern
methods in the art Single-handed
he wrested the leadership in matters
musical from Italy, and transferred
it to Germany, where it has since
remained. He was a master in the
technique of the organ and at one
time or another was the imperial
court organist of every court in
Europe. His oratories have never
been surpassed and it is doubtful if
they ever will! be. Quoting the In
ternational: "Bach's prodigality of
utterance. the astounding variety
and depth of his music, It's science
its art. it's formal beauty, all prove
him the master" He left a lasting
influence on such composers as
Beethoven, Schumann, Chaplin,
Mendelshonn, Wagner, Brahms and
Strauss and the scores he has left us
are considered as the worlds most
priceless musical heretages.
Names Immortal
After Bach's rapid succession came
Hayden, Mozart, Beethoven, Hum
mel, Weber, Gluck, Schubert, Schu-
mann, Herold, Rosini, Donize til
Spohr, Auber, Meyerbeer and Chap
man, names which will stand immor.
tai in the art till the end of time
ACSC dHO CHC WllVCIS w III CduC III
rectly after them formed the school
of what is now known as the Mas
ters.' The preceding, together with
Richard Wagner, Lietz, Greig, Saint
Saens. Devork, Bizet, Gunod, Hum
peidink, Stauss, Verdi, Rubenstien,
Offenback, and Massenet. comp osed
practically all of our present stand
ard works. and operas. To the
string instruments during this period
were added the, clarinet, French
horn, oboe, bassoon and trumpet.
This range of instruments is practi-
cally what We have today.
The influence of these, Germany s
great masters on the musical art of
the world can be summed up in the
quotation: imitation is the sincerest
form of fattery." No composer has
been more frequently initiated than
Mendelshonn. Rubenstlen, Russia &