Evening star., 1933-12-07
Interesting
Lecture on
Old Music
Chinese Melodies and Their
Basic Principles. a Sub
Ject OF John Hazedel
Lewis.
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

The vast riches and the basic prin-
ciples of Chinese music were in part
made known to a Western audience
last evening at the lecture recital given
by John Hazedel Lewis at Wardman
Park Hotel. 1t was soon apparent, as
MT. Lewis said, that only q small idea
OF the underlying principles could be
touched upon IN the short period of q
recital program, but Mr.. Lewis succeeded
not only in making Chinese music
more comprehensive, but in awaken
ing deeper interest in the fundamen-
tai psychology that has been its in
spiratlon for thousands of years.
Through intensive study in the land
where he was born and reared, Mr..
Lewis has grasped the manner OF think
ing and the emotional reactions of the
Chinese and has analyzed the musical
form in which these thoughts and feel
tngs were expressed. The melodic and
rhythmical plan is clear in his mind
and he was able last evening to ex-
plain 1t and illustrate it in scholarly
and interesting fashion. He succeeded
especially in two important things
that OF arousing greater respect for
Chinese music and an ambition to know
more about it.
In explanation Of the close union of
Chinese music to the whole scheme of
national life. Mr.. Lewis outlined the
philosophy Of thought and the charac-
ter OF the language and drew from
the early centuries after Christ for IL
lustl ations. All life. as pictured by the
Chinese. passes in rising, level and fall
ing lines, and all life is negative or
positive. The limited vocabulary Of
the language broadens itself by means
of the different levels of intonation,
changing the meaning of the same
word by an upward or downward in
Election. Rhythm enters also into the
speech. the amount of accent used in
forming the word altering its char
acter.
From the fourth century, when the
Chinese began to think of melody, mu-
sic has been considered such a force
in life that it has received govern
mental supervision and China Is the
only nation today which Incorporates
Board Of Music" in its executive de,
partments. From the cries of street
vendors to the ceremonies attending ali
functions Of life. music not only plays
an important part, but has certain
rules regarding its composition.
The tonal structure and its variations
during different dynasties was given
illustration in the musical pert OF the
program. Some of the numbers were
performed for the first time In modern
times and Mr. Lewis used various in
struments such as the dulcimer, the
Erh HUI. or two-stringed violin; the IT.
TIE, or flute, and the SOMA, or oboe,
as well as songs and the piano. Some
of the songs Mr.. Lewis sang first in Eng
lish and then IN Chinese, explaining the
poem and its philosophy as he went
along, and repeated on the piano. with
Western harmoniZation, several instru-
mental numbers.
Three especially lovely compositions,
"Alone With Ching Mountain" Chi
nese Lullaby" and The Knife Juggler," +"
have been arranged by Mr.. Lewis for the
piano. In the fantasy of idea in the
arrangement as well as his rendition
Mr.. Lewis showed himself q thoroughly
grounded and original musician, with q
feeling for tone color that gives a dis
tinctive character to his modern EN-
ployment of ancient Chinese musical
idiom. The appreciation Of the audi
ence grew as the recital continued and
at the end Mr.. Lewis was required to
add an encore in response to the en-
thusiastic applause