Evening star., 1947-12-21
Simple Beauty
Marks Music
OF Christmas
By Alice Eversmon

There is a special music that will
be heard all over the Christian
world today and during the coming
week. It will be present in its finest
form In the church services but
also in its holiday spirit where
ever people gather for pleasure.
Symphony orchestras will give it =
prominent place on their programs
and every hour on the radio will
feature it in some form. 1t is the
music of Christmas; the noble
hymns and anthems, the sacred and
secular carols.
The amazing part about this
music is its simplicity. 1t makes no
special demands that could set 1t
In a particular bracket of the great
art. No knowledge Of music is re-
uuired, in general, for the most
unframed can participate to some
degree. The principal requisite is
love Of fellow men, the putting aside
of worldly affairs and the gaining
again of childlike faith. 1t creates
the one period of the year when hu-
man nature is at its best.
To study the words of the carols
Is to find the loveliest expression
of tenderness and reverence. All
of the great event of the birth OF
Christ is brought close to the ordin-
ary mortal so that it becomes part
of life's experience. This has been
the practice since the earliest days
when the Mystery Plays portrayed
in simple fashion and in way to
be understood by the humblest
person, all the circumstances that
combined to make the first Christ
mas night the turning point in the
Worlds life.
Will Be Quickly Forgotten.
It Is a strange fact that when the
Yuletide has passed much of its
spirit will be forgotten. There will
be a return to absorption in daily
affairs, and, as regards music, con-
centration again on its form and its
mechanical expression. That music
which was sweet, simple and soul
melting for the short Christmas
period will leave no lasting impress
sion. But that was not how it was
intended when music sounded in the
heavens on Christmas night. 1t
filled the hearts of those who heard
1t with an unaccustomed peace and
Joy, for the lyric strains were simple,
the words to be understood by all.
Music as an alive art Is meant to
grow and find broader fields OF ex-
preston. For that reason 1t cannot
remain on the same plane nor limit
itself to gentle utterances. But 1t
can retain the elements that appeal
to both the heart and the mind OF
those interested in 1t and operate
continually in the bestowing OF
peace and joy. Earthly cares are
put away for the time OF listening
to music, but it must give some last
ing spiritual compensation If it is to
fulfill its destiny.
Gods Claims Recognized.
Most of the great men who occu-
pied themselves with the creation OF
music felt their responsibility both
to humanity and the Divine Being
who had endowed them with their
musical gift. They never lost their
delight in and appreciation OF the
simple things of this world. They
took pains to glorify the finest senti-
ments, thus doing their duty as they
saw it. We who listen to music do
not always react to its stimulus
as intended. Not often is its effect
carried over beyond the time OF lis
tening, nor does it serve at all times
as a help In daily living.
The Christmas music remains as
a constant reminder Of the choice
elements that should be combined in
all music making. They are all
simple in themselves-just warmth
of feeling, expansion of spirit, spir-
ituality in thought. These can per-
meate the most monumental work
as completely as the gentlest carol.
It Is an attitude of mind and an
exercise of feeling that the world
has almost forgotten, yet needs so
sadly today.