Evening star., 1933-01-15
! URING the recent conven-
ton of the National Music

IL Teachers Association Har-
old Bauer asked the queS-
tion: What is music and what
does it mean to us? Why do we
think it necessary addition tC
the general scheme Of education
The idea was left for the consid-
Grafton of those present and fol
a possible future answering. In
the study of the different aspects
of this art, the reason of the in
terest felt is but dimly under
stood and there is rather q
startled feeling left by the bring
ing to consciousness of the inabil-
ity to explain what music is. II
Is without doubt, asSumable that
where there is a question there
must of necessity be an answer
and to every problem there is a
solution if the mind is put to it
To the attempted answering OF
most questions, scientific men
have given their attention at some
time or other with varying re-
suits, but the question of what is
music and what good it does us
is still awaiting satisfactory
answer.
The question is not new and it
Is debatable if it would be any
help to have precise definition
or to go deeper into the subject
than has been already done. The
main point is the effect of music
and its power as an agent in civic
and moral development. It's
reputation of a charm that
Soothes the Savagery in individ-
ualS gives it potency as an in
fiuenee in communities. Surely
this is all the answer that is
necessary.
Music is a refuge-an escape
from the burdens and worries of
daily existence. 1t is a spiritual
refreshment that can assist where
the dogmas of religion fail to be
of help or when mathematical
calculations go astray. 1t is re-
taxation for the high tension Of
intellectual pursuit and a stimu-
lation for emotional WEAKNESS.
OF ali the arts it comes nearer to
expressing perfection, and perfec-
ton is the unassuaged demand of
the human heart.
Music is the link that attaches
us to nature and through nature
to the supernatural. The Chinese
believed music to be a direct ema-
nation from nature and SYMBOL
cal of its elements of earth, fire,
water, wood and metal. The
HindooS thought of harmony of
sounds among the planets and
music as its earthly represent
ative, and the ancient Greeks
were so sure of its part in the
scheme of the universe that they
sought for it by mathematical
computation.
In all nature there Is music,
and as nature Is enigmatical, so
also is music. Man has but taken
it and adapted it to his needs,
making it his servant. All art has
the duty Of expressing the funda-
mental quality of things, but only
music passes beyond the exterior
and touches the real substance.
Beethoven in his lonely walks
came to some understanding of
his own genius when alone with
the elemental music of the woods
and fields. He realized himself
4s an instrument whereby this
Unknown force could break
through and leave a substantial
help to further generations. In
his communion with nature he
came face to face with the Gre
ator of the universe and his awe
and humility before the phe-
nomenon he could feel but not
grasp, gave a religious turn to his
mind when wrestling with his
problems.
Liszt spent his life in seeking
perfection and wavered between
religion and music as a means of
attaining it. His thought was
for those who would come after
him and be influenced by what
he would leave them. When
List, still in his baby years, play
ed for the aging and soul trou-
bled Beethoven, the master said
to him: GO, you are a fortunate
one and you will bring happiness
to many and there is nothing
more beautiful than that" When
a short time later he gave a pub
lie concert. Beethoven went On
to the platform, seized the boy
in his arms and kissed him on
the forehead. At the celebration
of his fiftieth jubilee, which was
also the fiftieth anniversary of
the concert where Beethoven had
embraced him, LisZt said, II thank
God for having accorded me a
piouS childhood. The same senti-
mentS of religion animate my
compositions. My only ambition
as musician was to launch my
javelin into the indefinite spaces
Of the future"
In musical history there are
many examples Of the unity of
religious feeling to music. Gounod
spent two years Of his life in
studying theology with view of
devoting himself to religion and
although he later was more
worldly minded, he returned in
the last years of his life to the
mysticism of religion and COM
posed his greatest sacred works.
Cesar Franck, called "Pater
Serephicus," lived in an atmos-
phere of religion and found his
inspiration when alone at the
organ in the Church of Sainte
Clothilde where his pupils be-
lieved he conversed with the
angels.
The proof of all this is that the
pursuit of music inclines one to
good. The deeper one delves
into its beauties the more one is
lifted out of the lower level to
aspire for something better. The
reaction to music is entirely per
sonal and can be cultivated and
developed through our yielding to
its influence. Through il. hone