For Every Music Lover | Page 7

encouragement."
An art that in some form is found in the varied activities of all people,
at all times, must be the common heritage of humanity. "It does not
speak to one class but to mankind," said Robert Franz, the German
song writer. Alexander Bain called it the most available, universal and
influential of the fine arts, and Dr. Marx, the musical theorist, thought
music beneficial to the moral and spiritual estate of the masses.
Truly indeed has it been said that its universality gives music its high
worth. Mirroring neither your inner life alone nor mine, but the world's
essence, the transfiguration of what seems real, the divine Ideal, some
spark of which glows in every bosom, each individual may feel in it
whatever he is capable of feeling. The soul's language, it takes up the
thread dropped by words and gives utterance to those refined
sentiments and holy aspirations words are inadequate to awaken or
express. Its message is borne from heart to heart, revealing to each

things unseen, according as it is prepared to receive them.
In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare made Lorenzo speak to Jessica
of the harmony that is in immortal souls and say that "whilst this
muddy vesture of decay doth grossly close it in we cannot hear it." To
refine this muddy vesture, to render the spirit attentive, to bring light,
sweetness, strength, harmony and beauty into daily life is the central
function of music which, from the cradle to the grave, is man's most
intimate companion.
Richard Wagner devoutly believed it would prepare the way for an
unspoiled, unfettered humanity, illumined by a perception of Truth and
Beauty and united by a bond of sympathy and love. This ideal union is
the goal at which Tolstoi aims in his "What is Art?" He defines art as a
human activity to be enjoyed by all, whose purpose is the transmission
of the most exalted feelings to which men have arisen; but the union he
proposes would have to be consummated by a leveling process. All art
that cannot without preparation reach the uncultured classes is
denounced by him. He is most bitter in his denunciation of Wagner,
who fought for a democratic art, but who wished to attain it by raising
the lowliest of his fellow-creatures to an ever loftier plane of high
thinking and feeling.
According to Tolstoi, art began to degenerate when it separated itself
from religion. There must have been dense mist before the Russian
sage's mental vision when he fancied this separation possible. Art,
especially musical art, is a vital part of religion, and cannot be put
asunder from it. Like thought, music, since the bonds of church and
state have been broken, has spread wide its pinions and soared to
hitherto unsuspected heights. All noble music is sacred.
Amid the marvelous material progress of to-day music is more needed
than ever. Unburdened by the responsibility of fact, it brings relief to
the soul from the grinding pressure of constant grappling with
knowledge. The benefits of knowledge are great, but it is also
beneficial to be uplifted, as we may be by music, from out the
perplexing labyrinth of the work-a-day world toward the realm of the
Divine Ideal.

As a means of culture music is a potent factor in human civilization. It
is destined to wield even greater influence than has yet been known. It
has become the household art of to-day. As it enters more and more
fully into the heart of the home and social life it will more and more
enrich human existence and aid in ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven
on Earth.
If music can do so much for mankind, why are not all musicians great
and good? Ah, my friend, that is a hard question to answer, and can
only be fairly treated by asking another equally difficult question: Why
are not all people who have enjoyed the advantages of religion wise
and noble? Consider the gigantic machinery that has been put in motion
to promulgate Christianity, and note how slow men have been to
appropriate the teachings of its founder. Slow progress furnishes no
argument against the mission either of religion or its comrade music.
In common with religion music kindles our finer sensibilities and
brings us into an atmosphere superior to that which ordinarily
surrounds us. It requires wisdom to beautify commonplace conditions
with what has been enjoyed in aërial regions. Rightly applied, music
can lend itself to this illumination. As it is better known, its advantages
will be more completely realized.

II
Blunders in Music Study
Like a voice from the Unseen, the Eternal, music speaks to the soul of
man. Its informing word being delivered in the language of the
emotional nature finds some response to its appeal