Evening star., 1949-12-25
Music
Angelic Message
Still Challenges Art
By Alice Eversmon

all languages nave reSOunQeo
through the earth in their musi-
cal setting celebrating the Christ
Child's birth. They come from
the scriptures, from the minds OF
inspired poets or from the artless
lips of simple folks. Whatever
their source, they have worked
their wonder by releasing Ian
guage's puissant companion
music, in strains that have en-
dured through centuries and with
a force no heart can resist. In
the churches and in the homes
these words have formed the
keystone of the Christmas cele-
bration, keeping fresh in our lives
the very essence of Christianity.
Mankind. through all the tur-
hulence of passing eras. has held
steadily to the spirit these words
embody as representing its con-
cept of the meaning Of the holy
season. With complete truthful
ness, people have reiterated their
belief in the birth of a Saviour,
have sung of their devotion to
Him and with tender, loving
phrases, have retold the marvels
attending His coming. Alone,
many of these words might not
have survived the progress Of time
for their literary worth, their
chief appeal lying in the simple,
genuine feeling they express. It
was when combined with music
that they acquired the aura Of
poetry and eloquence.
The Testimony Of the Angels.
The first intimation Of the great
event was heard from the voices
Of angels. There was no polished
phraseology, no ambiguous mean
ing. From the midnight sky,
where a magnificent star blazed,
came the simple words: GLORY
to God in the Highest, Peace on
Earth to Men of Good Will" The
melody has vanished but the
words remained to set in motion
creative musical genius so long as
the world will last. AS strange
and difficult of comprehension as
this song from the heavens seems,
the fact that those words were
heard and that they were given
to mankind as song has never
been doubted.
What is the mysterious power
Of those words that not only con-
tinue to tighten the heart but to
open the well springs for the out
pouring of the most inspired mu-
sic? No poet or librettist has been
able to achieve the same lasting
fame in such a universal way.
In every country composers have
felt the grandeur Of those simple
phrases and have striven to match
them in the exercise of their par
ticular gifts. Why is it that dur
ing this sacred season people of
all nations finds them the only
true way to express their rever-
ence, their love and their exalta-
ton Of spirit. Nearly 1000 years
have passed since they were
heard in so spectacular manner,
yet each tWelvemonth they &C.
quire new freshness, sincerity and
significance.
The secret of their enduring
power is that they contain all
truth. They epitomize all the
yearnings of the human soul, to
honor its Maker and to live in
serene companionship with its
neighbors. Their message Is heard
again and again in the noble
music those touched by the Divine
hand have written. It is recog-
nized by every one even if the gift
Of explaining the phenomenon is
not theirs. Nor is it meant to be
theirs. 1t is not necessary to be
Intellectually conscious or scienti-
fically analytical of the music that
makes these words live again in
our hearts. Just to feel is suffici-
ent and to cherish that feeling
so that it will guide each daily
action as the light of the star led
both shepherds and kings to the
manger.
Never have those words had
such a clarion ring to them as
today. Strong and beautiful
comes the admonition, the prom
Use and the direction needed so
much by the entire world. While
public events indicate all too
clearly how little they are needed
now, music too carries the imprint
of this forgetfulness. Where are
the composers who knelt in prayer
before beginning their task, where
the artists who realized the Sa-
credness of their mission Pride
in mental powers, ambition and
greed have formed a cloud around
the source of all great art.
Precepts in Music Established.
Must it be only at the Christ
mas season that the spiritual ele-
ments Of music are recognized? It
was not so intended. The full
formula was given out on that
unforgettable night and no prog
ress or experiment can change it.
For music that midnight inclosed
the reminder to acknowledge
the Divine origin and to know
that it must operate as a forger
of peace both spiritual and in the
material sense. To keep the
splendor of that goal before the
minds of all peoples Is the duty
of musicians in whose hands lies
the recreation and the passing on
of those precepts.
Today musicians are brought
face to face once more with the
glorious destiny that is theirs
They have been told how to attain
it by angelic messengers and
1000 years have not minimizeo
49, k,r,.& oo4adad IN than Thf