South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-26
MORE MUSIC THE
NEED OF THE DAY
Children Should be Given a
Chance to Learn to Enjoy 1t
as II is Not an Art But a
Means of Expression.
By DAVID NAMES.

If 1 could choose my vocation in
life and could do as l pleased l would
elect To go about these United states
talking with the fathers and mothers
about the development of music
among the children. / would like TO
be at the head Of a movement de-
signed 20 see that music or the love
of music should not be crushed QUO
OF the child life.
believe with TolstOi who says:
Music, first OF ALL is not trade or
a profession. but a means of expression
Tor every one Of us" The term
means of expression" may be misun-
derstood. and L shall try TO explain il
10y going back and showing what il
has meant in the development of art
from the very early times.
When the pagan of old, fashioned
with faltering fingers the idols of wood
and stone which were the highest eN-
preston of his contemporary art. his
adOring eyes were fixed on something
tar Notwithstanding not of the
earth, 90 which he wanted to pour out
his very soul, and as one looks at these
Telics-the Pagan idols and the totem
poles of the Alaskan Indians, for eX-
ample. one feels behind the crude ma
terial expression the worship of
something higher.
The pyramids were reared to the
ancient kings of Egypt because these
kings were. in popular belief, the
earthly representatives of the Al
mighty and bore the stamp Of Divine
power, and ii is 70 this spirit of eternal
truth that the monuments are a trib-
ute.
4 long time after that came the eff
forts OF the Greeks and the Romans
to express their alteration of their de-
veloping ideals. and then was the
birth of really great art
The Revelation
And 10 Israel with the recognition
of the Spiritual Light came something
so Illuminating, SO fiery, so marvellous
that not in stone or paint or music
could th1s be adeQuently expressed. II
was a light so binding. a flame SO
enduring that spiritual religion BEGAN
I'm its cradle.
With Christianity and the Catholic
faith came the rituals and men rear
ed mar -elOus and enduring mOnu-
mcnts of stone TO house their ideals
and constructed wonderful organs 10
sound Gods praises. instead of the an
cient harp and timbrelS Then mu-
sic. as we know il today, was born.
Inspired by their faith, the old Italian
masters composed IN pure alteration
music which Will never die.
Never thought of gam oppressed
these men whose hearts wOrShipped
while their hands wrought II all pur-
ity the enduring artistic monuments.
i was sometime after this, when APP
preCiatiOn of what had been thus pro-
duced Grew, that the followers of
thccc lppsc and true men "eC;th TO
sc the chance Of persona! gain. and
the insiduous attacks of the CONNER
cial spirit began TO weaken and spoil
she artistic product. And we have
gone on making captive 10 the lower
commercial ends this wonderful art
that should only speak divine truth.
There IS however. a fine profes
sfouaIism in music. for which there
IS legitimate excuse and need The
rnest. IL my mind. is that of the in
spired teacher. You know very well
that when YOU have seen something
beautifuI-a wonderful sunset or
something equally glorious ana inspir-
ing-yOur first impulse is &C. call some
one TO share il with YOU.
Now in the search for truth in mu-
sic. We see these visions. and We want
others 20 see them, and We are un-
happy that the vision is denied SO
many
TO study music so as 90 be- able 10
ulav in concert is not love for music
at all but the seeking of a trade with
your musical instrument for tool
Love OF Children.
Is IL not best for your children 10
love their music as they love YOU.
DO is o part OF the same thlng-the
love OF music and the love OF you.
holn must ne pure ~ bUtN ~" nav
them pat their love for you on
money basis
What I av0uld like 20 do is 10 raise
the art of music from "a professional
20 an amateur basis. Our current
idea that music is az its h..st when
ft is professionals amateur music
Is bad music-ls typical OF the present
age. which tries 90 see all values M
money terms. The modern notion
that "a few should be set apart and
specialized 10 perform the worlds
music for IL is childish and transitory
u n the middle ages. FOR instance. a
Few learned men were professionalism
10 do the worlds writing for it. Now
every one learns 10 read and write
simply because every one needs the
means Of expressing himself Just SO.
every child. because Of the very fact