MUSIC IN THE HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14925, 24 February 1912, Page 5 (Supplement)

MUSIC IN THE HOME.

Tub music that is .sung in the home is the music that lies nearest '.hearts The music, that is sung in the family circle is. more .sincerely, felt than anything that is merely listened to the activity.involved in singing or playing gives a deeper pleasure than can he gained by listening .to another. All pianists •■'■ will know., exactly what 1 mean when 1 say that, in certain moods, 1 would rather spend ' an, evening with my own third-rate pianoforte playing than listen to Paclerewski." ; The music one. makes' oneself gives a double pleasure;.,but the music one makes; with others is the noblest music of all, , for: it gives a sense of comradeship, or intimacy, or• friendliness, that is one of the finest things in the world. u

Mow, in most houses, it rarely happens that all the members of a . family mid themselves at Dome on the same' evening' on week-days; but on Sunday afternoons, and frequently on Sunday evenings' alter service, Doth parents' ana children are "at home with .a few hours of .leisure to spend. , frequently hymns are sung, Or perhaps even an anthem or two ;'■ but, so lar as my own experience goes, little effort is < made to try -new music week by week, to sing in parts instead of m .urnson, and to make me singing ana playing continuously better in quality.' The music 'is more or iess casual, and tuough it may have the spontaneity of casna tilings, u is also careiess and perhaps even slovenly. Mo art is worth pursuing half-heartedly, for wholcheartedness • reaps a result infinitely more satisfactory and satisfying. 1 feel pretty sure that the partial nidiiierence of most people to the music they make at home is one to nothing save a lack of knowledge of the potentialities of music. They sing; and play merely for the pleasure of the moment. * But .surely, this is a very narrow view to take ,or art!' Music, alter.all, is something more than a sensuous pleasure, a drug to lull the senses to peace. The function of all art is to bring us into closer touch with all I that, is fine and noble m lite. . The lives i of most of us are in a groove music lifts us out ,of that groove. It gives our souls wings to fly into heaven. It' lends life, j colour, and beauty. It quickens;'the ima- j gination and stimulates the sensibilities. ! these are not mere words, but facts. And if "secular" music can do all this for men, what may we not expect to get.from sacred music': But the noblest kind of '■ sacred music is that which has been writ- i ten by the greatest and noblest men ; we ! must not, therefore, remain content with just those few hymns, anthems, and songs that we know already we must try to widen our knowledge and broaden our sympathies' by coming into the closest possible contact" with the finest minds.

And how is this- to bo accomplished? Well,; it may be said at once 'that it can be done quite easily. You must have regular hours for your music; you must not leave your singing and playing to chance. Each member must work to give pleasure to others as well as to increase liis own knowledge. Beginners may very well start with hymns, singing first in unison, until they are sure of their, rhythm and time, and then they should attempt to sing familiar hymns in four parts. A few months' regular study will bring not only a, great increase in musical, knowledge and capability. \ but what is much more valuable —an increased spiritual richness and a finer responsiveness,to all that is beautiful in the ordinary round of daily life.—Gerald Cumberland, in the Choir.