Omaha daily bee., 1917-12-23
Nj i s / c
By HENRIETTA M. REES.

EM. tendant joys.
80 The churches will put on
special musical services, commemorat-
ing the anniversary of the birth OF
Christ; few groups of merry friendly
people will get together and sing
Christmas carols, and the chimes will
ring out again with the gladstone It'd
ings of peace on earth, good will
to men," while the whole civilized
world is plunged into the deepest and
darkest OF warfare, trying to get it.
And music is great tonal mirror,
held up to the world, which reflects
whatever there is in life; whatever
festival, or event which stirs the souls
OF people, whatever season of the
year. or characteristic OF environment,
which leaves a marked impression be-
hind it. In the story of the Christ
child there is beauty and tenderness
of the deepest meaning, and in the
true music of the Christmas season,
there is found some OF the finest and
Ioveliest music which has ever been
written. 1t is great privilege to be
able to become acquainted with it, a
privilege of which all students and
lovers Of music should avail them
selves.
Eugen Ysaye, the Belgian violinist,
viii come to the Auditorium Friday
night, January 4, for a concert under
municipal auspices, Ysaye has been
heard in Omaha before, and has long
held an envied place among the violin
lists. Before the war, Fritz Kreislet
called him the greatest of living
violinists, while many felt that the
adjective should be shared by Ysaye
and Kreisler, Ysaye might be called
the dean of violin virtuosi.
He has met with many changes
since his last appearance here. He
has lost his lands and property in his
native country. He lost his sons at
the front, and has endured and suf-
fered other hardships in common with
his many compatriots. For many
years he has held prominent place
in the musical circles of the world
and the opportunity to hear him is one
one OF the greatest treats music lovers
can be given. There is a magnitude
of his conceptions, and a spirituality
about his interpretations which lifts
the listener for the time being above
the materiaiistic routine OF ordinary
existence. The tickets for this concert
have been placed at a low scale of
prices, IN order that all music lovers
desiring to hear him may do so with
out being prevented by prohibitive'
rates. ,
Did ever a national anthem have
such a restless existence as our ia
liar Star Spangled Banner? Ev-
erybody knows the melody, yet few
know it and sing it alike, 1t often
waves, but not proudly, rather, un-
certainly cn|eighth notes and
dotted notes, and notes held in one
version and not held, but moving
around in anothes@~-etrae until even
though we know the words. an audi
ence does not make very good united
result in the singing of it.
Consequently, various authorized
editions have been put out from time
To time, but as these have differed
from aeach other, it has not accom-.
plishsd anything in the singing of it.
IN 1920 according to the New York
lnnes. a volume was published ell
tiled National Patriotic and Typical
Mrs OF All Lands by John Philip
>ousa, bandmastcr, L. S. NJ. {. by
authority appeared Upon its title
page. and the front printed matter
contained an order from E. +. Tracy,
secretary OF the navy, 10 proceed with
tte compilation for use in the dc.
partlucnt.
According to the same paper the
National Educational association has
also attempted to standardize the air.
Last year at Chicago Thomas !.
Nelly in directing the Community
singing made several changes in it.
l hese were recognized and author
ized by the music division of the
library of congress,
The latest revision and new har-
monization has been made by a COM
mittee OF musicians and others at the
request OF the United Safes Bureau
OF Education. The committee in
charge was composed of Will Ear
hart, chairman; Walter ]. Damrosch.
Arnold J. Granvoort, O. G.. Sonneck
and John Philip Sousa. The harmo.
nization is by Walter Damrosch, and
will soon be published by the Bureau
ot Education. The Times remarks:
How far the authority of that bu.
reua goes to enforce the playing and
singing OF the national anthem in the
revision made for it does not appear
Is it TO be adopted by the army and
navy and other branches of the gov.
ernment?"
Both the newer editions start "Oh,"
on a descending { and d, to "sav" on
b HAT in the key Of B flat, at the be-
ginning.
So there, There are at least three
authorized versions, and which one
shall we play and sing? Not that il
makes so very much difference if
only we all sing the same one. If
no definite recognition is taken by
the government OF any special one.
would it be possible for the MAYORS
OF different cities to appoint a com
mittee OF musicians to decide, which
version should be used in that CITY,
and then ask all players and singers
to abide by and become familiar with
the one OF their decision? In any
case the decision should be made for
the version which is the easiest to
sing, and which carries the meaning
of the words the most easily.
Edith L. Wagner supporting her
argument that the key of A is much
more satisfactory than the key of B
Hat, for the "Star Spangled Banner"
says that most people who can sing
4 b fiat can manage an A below mid
1le I, while it is much harder for
khnca Hanhp