MUSIC HATH CHARMS

Northland Age, Volume 14, Issue 33, 26 April 1917, Page 7

MUSIC HATH CHARMS

Music according to the dictionary, is a succession of sounds so modulated as to please the ear. Those, however, who have small children of their own who arc fond of practicing the piano, consider this description entirely incorrect. One of the earliest mentions of music was when David played the harp before Saul, and Saul threw a javelin at him. His example might have been followed more generally than has since been done. Perhaps the best known form of music is that which is connected with the piano. Nearly everyone, when young, starts to learn how to play the piano, but very few ever succeed. Those, however, who persevere in their studies, generally find that the houses on either side of them are never occupied for long. In order to be considered a successful musician it is usually deemed necessary to wear a dirty collar and long hair. The latter is even more essential than the former, and is about as common. Those who pose as musicians always like it to be distinctly understood that they will have nothing to do with anything but severely classical music. Classical music to (he lay mind, is generally a succession of chords or passages that seem to have no connection with each other, and are entiiely devoid of tune. The more incomprehensible they are, the more do the so called connoisseurs rave about them. Then there are music lessons, which arc usually given by those who are incapable of playing successfully themselves. Since most of the musical students of the present day are young girls, it naturally follows that most of the music masters are old men. It is also worthy of remark that at most of the principal colleges of music of to-day the students’ rooms have glass doors. This is not so much a question of cause as to save possible effects. There is an axiom of euclid that says that two bodies cannot possibly occupy the same music stool.

There is also the music that is met with at the so-called musical At Homes. These arc so entitled because no one ever feels at home, and the music is generally conspicuous by its absence. Everybody is usually expected to contribute to the entertainment in one form or another, and nobody is expected to, listen. As a rule, no one does. Pianoforte solos generally constitute a big item on the programme, as during them the guests are able to talk with less restraint than they can during songs. Refreshments arc, of course, provided, but, like the music, they are invariable as weak as possible.