HYMNS AND TUNES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1922, Page 17

HYMNS AND TUNES.

MUSIC THE INDESTRUCTIBLE. (By WILLIAM COOPER.) On a recent Sunday afternoon, that irrespressiblo humorist, Archbishop Julius, spoke with affectionate regard of "dear little hymns." and with severe disapproval of "nasty little tunes." On the following Sunday the Rev. J. Lang Harvey, taking a leaf out of the Julian jest book, discoursed affably about '"nice sinners," and very unamiably about "nasty saints." It ie really surprising, in fact, lamentable, that, so far. not a j solitary duly appointed priest, not a single accredited servant of Euterpe has ! expressed any resentment at the slur cast by the Primate on the fair fame of the purest of all the muses. Though unlearned in the divine art of music, yet as a sincere worshipper at the ehrine of the tuneful Goddess, I feel compelled to raise a protest on her behalf, since she is not here, in propria persona, to defend herself. I submit with deference, vet with confidence, that there cannot be eueh a thing as "a nasty tune," little or great. What is a tune? It is "a j rhythmical melodious series of musical tones, for one voice or instrument, or for any number of voices or instrument in unison; or two or more such series, forming parts, in harmony.*' "Music imelody or harmony, a succession of sounds so modulated as to please the ear," (Webster). There is no room for nastiness here, for music is one of the very few things which can neither rxtainted, soiled, defiled, nor adulterated. It is, unfortunately, frequently fore-ed I into temporary association with ques tionable gestures and objectionable words, just as it would be possible foi an angel—could one be caught—to be I clothed with muddyl garments. there would be this differenre between the two. Even while that temporary association lasts, the music, itself, remains absolutely pure and unsullied, whereas, on the other hand, on disrobing the angel of his foul raiment, some of the mud would, morally or immorally, be certain to stick. No matter to what base uses any music may have been put. when it is rendered before an audience, severed from its former objectionable associations, it will convey no evil suggestivenees except to those who, from memory or imagination, have brought the evil with them. The original environment of such music, however, has usually been of such a nature as should prove entirely uncongenial to archbishops, and if such tunes may sometimes now distress a Primate's ear, they must, of course, be only faint echoes from far dietent unrcfjenerate daye. Yet, after all, why should not such tunce be occasionally rescued from their old undesirable surroundings, and elevated to the purify, ing and ennobling coniD&ninnshirj of dear little hymns. A great British divine, either Kobert Hall or Charles Haddon Spurgeon. I forgpt which, waa accustomed to declare that the devil appeared to have the monopoly of all the best tunes, and this should not be permitted. So it has come to pass that, now, one often hears secular -tunes set to sacred lyrics, usuall}with some advantage to the latter. Dr. Isaac TVatte" hymn, "There i« a Land of Pure Delight," loses nothing of its poetic grace, and nought even of ite pious aspiration, when it is occasionally accommodated to the air of "Drink to Mc Only With Thine Ejes." In the days of my childhood, the "Mothers of Salem" had been hilariously harnessed to a Teutonic Bacchanalian song, and within the walls of the old Baptist Church of Wellesley Street, in company with other youthful vocalists, I joined in cheerfully chirping that dear little hyron to that unholy tune. It was not till many years after, that a young German lady, who knew more than I did, and did not hesitate to tell mc so, informed mc of the tune's diereputable origin. But it had done mc no harm, and I think it is still doing service in many a Sunday «chool without appreciable danger to the immortal soul of any juvenile singer. On the other hand, however, does it not sometimes happen that a charming secular melodj is forced into a distasteful alliance with some of thoee fearful productions to Ise found in modern hymnalsf I have had the misfortune to encounter quite a number of these. One of them stands out prominently in my memory. It was the ferutal yoking of gentle "Annie Laurie" to an awful atrocity miscalled a hymn, which viciously spat out flames from every veree, wae redolent of brimstone, and a.bsolutely reeked with blood! It was an outrage, a criminal outrage, yet it really did mc no harm, for its remembrance, even now, gives n keener edge to my enjoyment of that dear little song. Whenever I lipar it rendered. I am confident that when, like Annie's lover. I lny mc down and dee." a requiem mass founded on the sweet, cadeiicee of "Annie Laurie." would do much for the repose of my soul, if 1 really possess a soul, and it requires rest. But now, what of "Nice sinners and nasty sainte?" Well, on that interesting theme. I may have something to say anon. ______»—_—