The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-05-07

we know are all of recent years.
In Il letter Of Pliny to the Emperor
Traian. he speaks Of hymn singing
in the Bthynian churches in the
Second Century. The original Gloria
in Exceisis, the Greek informing
Hymn. was unquestionably sung rs
early as the reign of the Emperor
IIadrian Hymns came INTO common
usage throughout the immediate sue
cceding centuries and though colored
by the religious controversies so rife
after the conversion Of Constantine
became firmly fixed in ecclesiastical
liturgy. At the period when the Arian
hcrcsies were reflected in their
HYMNS, the orthodox, urged by st.
Chrysostom, in nightly procession
sang their hymns, and it is a matter
of record that the results were often
most bloody when any two Of
these hymn singing professions met.
Through the centuries great hymns
we're written, and side by side came
works of IA more dramatic sort where
in musical Instruments and acting
characters appeared. Such was the
Nativity hymn of Komanus written i'm
the Fitth Century.
Passing on to medieval times we
|
tor SIRIUS was written by Charles
the Bald. son of Charlcmagne, about
$40 a. y.
1t is fitting to mention at this
point that Martin Luther was the
greatest gathcrer together of hymns
and adapter Of same in the annals of
mus ical history.
The Pipe Organ
The pipe organ in its early DAYS
was merely an arrangement of pipes
following the principles of the bag
pipe ana the pan-pipc, the tones be-
ing produced by wind forced through
them by mechanical means. "Ctesi-
bus, Il native of Alexandria. is said
to have built hydraulic organ (the
wind supplied by water pressurc)
about the year 200 b. g., and instru-
ments Of this description were in use
more than 1000 years.
The pipe organ wherein the wind
pressure was pneumatic, viz, bellows
supplied, tnot to be COMPOUNDED with
modern pneumatics) is found refer
red to in literature MS early as 3G}
A. b.
In Rome the organ was first used
in public religious services in the
time of Pope Nitalan the First, Ca.
ID. G66). In England organs were
built early in the Eighth Century,
and France about the same time,
while in Germany they were first in
troduced by Charlemagnc about 81
A. ID. The love Of harlemaghc for
the organ, which at that time was
merely 4 few pipes from which tones
were produced by a man pulling out
slides from those pipes, and thus al
lowing the tone to become audible,
was so great that the Caliph Haroun
Alraschid sent him an instrument
built by an Arab named Giafur, in
S22 A. ID.
The. first great organ in England
was erected in the old church at Win
chester and was so loud il could be
heard throughout the town. 1t was
operated by two monks of "concor-
dant spirit and the wind was sup
piled by bellows worked by other
! brethren Of probably less amiable dis
positions. Gradually the slides which
opened and closed the passages to
tho wind pipes were controlled, not
by individual hand application but by
levers, operated somewhat in the
style of Il modern switchman's signal
box. Then came the keyboard, the
earliest one being of nine keys rang
ing in width from five to nine mcnes
These were struck with the fist or
elbows Of the performer. During the
Fourteenth Century, in Germany key
boards playable by fingers appeared
of three octaves. Pedals were invent
: ed by Albert Van Os about 1870 A.
I. d. and thereafter Germany showed
the greatest creativesgenius in organ
, construction for the next four cen
turtles until organ bull ing spread
2 over Europe and became a grea: guild
4 Of expert workmen.
: Passing rapidly on in the view of
l pipe organ development, Il growth
G which was purely churchly and which
tended only towards the embellshing
), of church requirements, let us gaze
$ at that modern miracle the movie
. theatre organ. At first in theatrical
x work the organs, regarded as doubt
$ full accessory to the orchestra, was
!, of the church organ type. Then build
, ers perfected snappy quick action
!. that would have paralyzed organists
in the last century with astOnish-
ment. The person who sits in movie
1 theatre today hears the grand accun,-
: ulation of tones represented by the
q three epochs mentioned at the begin
;. ming of this article, the percussion
r period. the wind period and the
I string period.
Upon the silver screen every emo
ton, every contingency, every Gus
tom of the past and present, every
> imaginable phase Of life below the
, earth. on the earth and in the air
: are represented. To further the pre-
sentation Of the screen pictures the
music must be in accord. The movie
q organist Of today is Il creature or
: circumstance who is like no must
clan before him in the annals of
musical history. His library of music
must be large. and must be accurately
q classified as to rhythm or themes. He
4 must select music through the aid OF
due sheet for the picture in such a
manner that the music will so accord
with the rhythmic action of the pic
ture that the audience must be men
! tally and soulfully intrigued by the
9 picture, not the music. The music
> Of the movie theatre is Of all ages
> Of all types, from severely classical
- to the most jazzy, and the tone tints
= must not jar even though as brilliant
as sunset colors against a drah skv
:, The organist must observe rules OF
: good taste and not play, as | once
!, heard played when quite young, "At
= the Devils Ball. to accompany a
: news reel depicting the funeral cort-
I ege Of a certain European monarch.
or course, with such startling in
novations as the movie and movie
! organs some equally startling effect.
= have crept into music, viz. Jazz.
: Note few of the following plag
5 iarisms from Tin Pan Alley classi,
hunters! Here are few classic.
:, which have been pursued, knocked
. dead, and their quivcring remains
!. utilized as follows:
Marcheta--Strains from Mcrr!
). W;ync re WipdSOr