The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1921-08-24
The Jew in Music

The Jew IN Music. And althO am
a Jew and musician, and have al
ways been bofh. and am descended
from parents who. ako were both
Jews and musicians, 1t was not until
1 sat down to reflect upon my topic
that I came to the almost overwhelm-
ing understanding Of the natural rela-
tion. the unbroken connection and the
absolute affinity of the Jew and his
music.
His music! The Jews music!
Could we go far enough back to know,
to hear the Jews first music, I won
der what 1t would mean to us? won-
der just how far back that would
take us? How many people realize to
what dim and far-distant ages the
memories Of music bark back? Long
before what we call civilization, with
the crudest OF noise Makers" our
savage forbears produced and loved
their music. 1t was associated with
their tribal festivities, with their re-
ligious rites, with all the invocatiOns
and incantatiens to their various
deities. Music was the power which
swayed their gods and music was n
stimulant to their zeal and fervOr. 1t
drove out their evil spirits and prop
itiated their benign spirits, md in
very truth sOOthed the savage
breast"
And the Jew ages back-but never
savage-incorpOrated into his worship
of Zone GOd-one Lord chants and
melodies, hut calculated, since they
were considerably different from or.
binary speech and conversational pray
err, to hold the attention of the wor-
shipping people and to appeal for the
attention Of the Almighty to their sup
plications and thanksgivings. Even
today some of the earliest chants are
still discernible In orr Hebrew mu-
sic.
As civilization rose and marched
forward, so music marched in the van
guard. And there developed among
the Jewish people certain melodies
which have become traditional, hay
ing been handed down from age to
age, from generation to generation.
Those melodies are our music, our
peoples originator and expression,
our folk songs. They have been used
wherever the Jews in their wander
ings have halted; wherever, openly
or in secret, they have worshipped
their lone Cod; wherever a Jewish
boy or girl, born to genius, has dis
closed a glorious voice or wonder
hand.
The Jew and music! Can they by
any stretch Of Imagination be disso-
ciated? No! a thousand times no Z!
Since the beginning OF time the Jews
have been patient and long suffering.
They have lived under frightful OPP
pression-and survived. They have
worked against fearful odds-and sue
ceeded! They were browbeaten and
tortured by tyrants-and they kept
the faith! And, greatest thing the
paths of education; theie is no self
denial to extreme to give the child
every chance 20 improve upon his and
their status. They are satisfied and
supremacy happy If he makes good"
and rises above them, even tho they
are content to remain themselves
where they are.
And ms further, even more convinc-
ing, proof of the Jews love of mu-
sic, and their understanding of mu-
sic, examine the personnel Of any
audience at opera, concert or recital
in parquet, box or, dome. There you
will find the Jews and Jewesses who
know as well as those who wish to
learn to know, 1t is apropos and will
doubtless prove interesting to know
what one of the leading musical pa
pers said on this subject only few
months ago. The following editorial
is from the Musical Leader, Chi
cagO publication:
Music and q Race.
According to James Whitaker, who
Notwithstanding his recent marriage
to n lovely and distinguished lady
maintains his reputation as wit,
Henry Ford of Detroit wants all Jews
in America to return to Palestine. If
such thing were possible the conse-
auences to music would be unthink-
able. 1t would be necessary to trans
port also all musicians, since there is
not enough of sustaining public
apart from the Jewish population to
warrant symphony orchestras, opera
or concerts. Music is the Jews nat
ural heritage, and but for him music
would make poor showing in Chi
cago. A good piano recital, virtuoso
violin program, fine symphony, and
even bad opera will find his people
present in large. numbers, and as che
race is keen for education it follows