Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-25

Among other things that have been
revolutionized by the latter-day ex-
cavations and discoveries in Babylo-
mia, Egypt. Assyria. Arabia, Crete
and elsewhere, is the subject of the
music of the Bible. More than a gem
GRAFTON ago Sir John Stainer-most
learned of musicians-contribut
some articles to the "Bible Educator"
These articles were on the music of
the scriptures, and, having been gath
cred into a large volume, they were
published by Novello, in London.
Since that time-1S79-ideas about
the instruments and musical customs
of the people of the East have under
gone a complete change. owing to the
discoveries of which we have spoken.
Where. before, historians had TO
content themselves with conjectures,
supported by the most shadowy evil
dence. or none at all. they have now
the more recent results Of the excava-
tions of explorers.
With this light to guide him, the
Rev. F. w. Galpin has taken Sir John
Stainer's book, revising 1t and filling
ii with a mass of information on the
subject of the music of the Bible of
great Importance to musicians. To
those, also, among the wealthy who
are fond of collecting ancient musical
instruments, the book of Sir John
Stainer. as revised by the Rev. Mr..
Galpin. will be of particular interest.
for the plates, with which it is filed
not only give illustrations of the
latest discoveries of the musical IN
struments with which recent excava-
tors have enriched the world, but
also. the manner in which they were
played.
much Of the original work Of Sii
John Stainer remains valuable. He
was. indeed, so far from the dogmatie
spirit that he understood that nearly
everything he said on his subject was
liable to correction, and, In discussing
matters over which he knew thai
archaeologists grow bitter, he always
kept his temper. and his manner OF
writing was always easy, unanectee
and perfectly lucid.
The authorized version OF the Bible
Is full Of vague statements and gross
errors where 1t speaks OF musical IN
struments. Hundreds of thousands o.
neople have lived happily enough II
the belief that on certain historic oc-
casions the dulcimer was used, and
they might, even If they were Scotch
or of Scotch descent, nave peer
shocked to learn that the hagpipes
were meant.
They have read of the sackbut, ant
may have looked in dictionary and
found that to be a trombone, but, II
the revised book OF Sir John Stainer
thew will find that the word sabees
or sambuca was wrongly TRANSLATED
and the instrument was an earl,
harp. What has commonly been un
derstood by psaltery, translation o
psauterin, we do not know, and prob
ably most people are very vague a:
/ to the form of Chaucer's "Sautrie,'
hut both words mean exactly such
dulcimer as commonly can be hears
in the streets of any large city today
The Hebrew word Ugab, again, Il
rendered organ, but nothing like In
organ of the present day was meant
rather the thing thought Of was near
err to the Pan pipes, once the in
variable orchestra of a Punch ans
Judy show. The Lutheran translation
of Ugab is simply pipes" which re
minds one of the Scotch kis
lowhustles."
The first English translation OF tn
Bible could not do other than max
! . shot at the names OF Instrument