Musical Myths and Facts Volume I Part 2

Mon fils! par tes vertus j'honore ta poussiere.

"_Chorus._

"Nous t'offrons les debris d'un trone, etc., etc.

"_Solo._ (_Soprano._)

"Ah! perisse l'idolatrie Qu'on voue a la royaute.

Terre ne sois qu'une patrie, Qu'un seul temple a l'humanite, Que l'homme venge son injure Brise, en bravant, le faux devoir, Et le piedestal du pouvoir { _Repeated by_ Et les autels de l'imposture, { _the Chorus._ Rois, pontifs! o ligue impure Dans ton impuissant desespoir Contemple aux pieds de la nature Le diademe et l'encensoir!

Versailles et la fourbe Rome Ont perdu leurs adulateurs.

Les vertus seront les grandeurs, { _Repeated by_ Les palais sont les toits de chaume. { _the Chorus._

"_Solo._ (_Tenore._)

"Les Francais qu'on forme a la guerre Appellent contre les tyrans Les represailles de la terre, Du haut des palais fumans.

Des bords du Gange a ceux du Tibre Dieu! rends bientot selon nos voeux Tout homme un citoyen heureux, { _Repeated by_ Le genre humain un peuple libre. { _the Chorus._

"_Solo Recit._ (_Ba.s.so._)

"Nous finirons son esclavage Ce grand jour en est le presage!

"_Chorus_ (_concluding with a brilliant orchestral Coda_).

"Nous t'offrons les debris d'un trone," etc., etc.

This curious composition was performed in the Cathedral of Stra.s.sburg, and created great sensation. Everyone declared that only an ardent patriot could have produced such a stirring work. Nevertheless Pleyel, after having been set free, thought it advisable to leave Stra.s.sburg for London as soon as possible.

Besides those already mentioned, several other distinguished musicians could be named who were born or who lived in Stra.s.sburg. Ottomarus Luscinius, a priest, whose proper German name was Nachtigall, published in the year 1536, in Stra.s.sburg, his 'Musurgia, seu Praxis Musicae,' a work much coveted by musical antiquarians. Sebastian Brossard, who, about the year 1700, was Kapellmeister at the Stra.s.sburg Cathedral, is the author of a well-known musical dictionary. Sebastian Erard, the inventor of the repet.i.tion-action and other improvements in the pianoforte, as well as of the double-action in the harp, was born at Stra.s.sburg in the year 1752.

In short, Elsa.s.s-Lothringen has been the cradle of many men distinguished in arts and sciences. The prominent feature of the national character of the inhabitants, revealed in their popular songs and usages, is a staidness which is not conspicuous among the pleasant qualities of the French. This innate staidness accounts for the reluctance recently shown by them to being separated from France, just as it accounts for their former disinclination to become French subjects. Moreover it will probably, now that they are reunited to their kinsmen, gradually make them as patriotic Germans as they originally were. That they require time to transfer their attachment redounds to their honour.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[2] The opera was introduced into England from Italy about the year 1660.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

MUSIC AND ETHNOLOGY.

The following scheme devised for obtaining accurate information respecting the music of different nations is probably without precedent.

In the year 1874 the British a.s.sociation for the Advancement of Science resolved to issue a book of instructions for the guidance of travellers and residents in uncivilized countries, to enable them to collect such information as might be of use to those who make special study of the various subjects enumerated in the book.[3] The subjects relate to manners and customs, arts, sciences, religion, war, social life,--in fact, to everything which throws light upon the stage of civilization attained by the people, and which the ethnologist may desire to ascertain. The book is for this purpose divided into a number of sections, each on a certain subject, on which it contains a number of questions. These are preceded by a short note explanatory of the subject. In order to render the questions as effective as possible, especial care has been taken that they should enter into all necessary details.[4]

Having been requested to undertake the section headed "Music," and to draw up a list of numbered questions in accordance with the plan adopted by the committee, I have endeavoured to direct the attention of those for whom the book is intended to the musical investigations which, in my opinion, are especially desirable; and I have occasionally interspersed among the questions a hint which may a.s.sist the investigator. It appeared to me unnecessary to give definitions of musical terms made use of in the questions--such as _interval_, _melody_, _harmony_, etc.--which are to be found in every dictionary of the English language.

Some terms, however, required an explanation to render them fully intelligible to those travellers who are but little acquainted with music. Of this kind are, for instance, the names of the different musical scales. The English missionaries, traders, merchants, consuls, and other residents in foreign countries, seldom possess any available knowledge of music. Still, among the questions here submitted to them are many which they may be able to answer satisfactorily; while, on the other hand, it must be admitted, not a few can be properly replied to only by men of musical education and experience. However, what one person is unable to investigate another may do; and thus, perhaps, we may hope, in the course of time, to be supplied with reliable and instructive answers to most of the questions from different parts of the world.

Some of the questions may appear, at a first glance, to be of but little importance; it is, however, just those facts to which they refer which ought to be clearly ascertained before we can expect to discern exactly the characteristics of the music of a nation or tribe.

It will be observed that certain questions pre-suppose a somewhat advanced state of civilization--as, for instance, those referring to musical notation, instruction, literature, etc. There are several extra-European nations--as the j.a.panese, Chinese, Hindus, etc.--which have advanced so far in the cultivation of music as to render these questions necessary; and it would be very desirable to possess more detailed information concerning the method pursued by these nations in the cultivation of the art than is at present available.

The present scheme is quite as interesting to the musician, or even more so, than it is to the ethnologist. Professional musicians in general are, however, not likely to become acquainted with the instructions for musical researches published together with various other scientific inquiries by the British a.s.sociation. It is for this reason that they are here inserted, since the present work has a better chance of coming into the hands of professional musicians than the anthropological publication. Howbeit, years must elapse before it leads to a practical result. The originator of the questions may never enjoy the advantage of receiving the answers; but he has, at least, the pleasure of preparing the way for an acc.u.mulation of well-ascertained facts which intelligent musicians of a future generation will know how to turn to good account.

"(_Section LXVIII._) _Music._

"The music of every nation has certain characteristics of its own. The progressions of intervals, the modulations, embellishments, rhythmical effects, etc., occurring in the music of extra-European nations, are not unfrequently too peculiar to be accurately indicated by means of our musical notation. Some additional explanation is, therefore, required with the notation. In writing down the popular tunes of foreign countries, on hearing them sung or played by the natives, no attempt should be made to rectify anything which may appear incorrect to the European ear. The more faithfully the apparent defects are preserved the more valuable is the notation. Collections of popular tunes (with the words of the airs) are very desirable. Likewise, drawings of musical instruments with explanations respecting the construction, dimensions, capabilities, and employment of the instruments represented.

"_Vocal Music:_--

"1. Are the people fond of music?

"2. Is their ear acute for discerning small musical intervals?

"3. Can they easily hit a tone which is sung or played to them?

"4. Is their voice flexible?

"5. What is the quality of the voice? is it loud or soft, clear or rough, steady or tremulous?

"6. What is the usual compa.s.s of the voice?

"7. Which is the prevailing male voice--tenor, baritone or ba.s.s?

"8. Which is the prevailing female voice--soprano or alto?

"9. Do the people generally sing without instrumental accompaniment?

"10. Have they songs performed in chorus by men only, or by women only, or by both s.e.xes together?

"11. When they sing together, do they sing in unison, or in harmony, or with the occasional introduction of some drone accompaniment of the voice?

"12. Is their singing in regular time, or does it partake of the character of the recitative?

"13. Have they songs for solo and chorus,--or, with an air for a single voice, and a burden (or refrain) for a number of voices?

"14. Describe the different kinds of songs which they have (such as sacred songs, war-songs, love-songs, nursery-songs, etc.), with remarks on the poetry.

"_Instruments:_--

"15. What are their instruments of percussion (such as drums, castanets, rattles, cymbals, gongs, bells, etc.)?

"16. Have they instruments of percussion containing sonorous plates of wood, gla.s.s, stone, metal, etc., upon which tunes can be played? and if so, write down in notation, or in letters, the tones emitted by the slabs.

"17. Have they drums with cords, or some other contrivance by means of which the parchment can be tightened or slackened at pleasure?

"18. Have they drums with definite tones (like our kettle-drums)? and, if so, what are the tones in which they are tuned when two or more are played together?