| Citation |
NCGN(D.775.003
13 Jan 1775:32,33
The Observator. (No. 1)
"Whilst I yet live, let me not live in vain."
The subject of this shall be to exhort the fair sex, to
whose interest I shall occasionally pay a respectful
attention in the course of my lucubrations, to the study of
music, or the science of harmonical sounds, and also to
point out the necessity and advantage of instrumental as
well as vocal music in our houses of worship. Music,
whatever may have been advanced to the contrary, is
certainly an accomplishment which every woman, above the
plebeian rank, may with propriety indulge herself in; the
study of it may be rendered but triflingly expensive, and
the practice of it, when suitably timed, affords the mind
the most innocent and agreeable entertainment imaginable.
A celebrated writer has said, and I hope I may quote his
expression without offence to the ladies, that "the
acquirement of music hath frequently concealed a want of
other valuable and necessary accomplishments in the fair
sex." But where this, with others of a more domestic kind,
and especially those refined ones of a literary nature
unite, and we often find they do, how admirable does so
finished a character bespeak, or rather indeed command our
respectful notice and approbation?--It is the peculiar and
essential property of music to divest the soul of every
unquiet passion, to ease us under those thousand little
cares incident to life, to pour upon the mind a silent and
serene joy, beyond the power of words to express, and to fix
the heart in a rational, benevolent, and happy tranquillity.
--I think I may venture the assertion that it is the
peculiar quality of music to raise the sociable and happy
passions, and to subdue the contrary ones. --The effects
ascribed to music by the ancients are almost miraculous: By
means hereof diseases are said to have been cured;
unchastity corrected; seditions quelled; passions raised and
calmed; and even madness cured-- Be this, however, as it
may, I would appeal to either, or both the sexes, whether
ever they found themselves urged to acts of selfishness,
cruelty, treachery, revenge, or malevolence, by the power of
musical sounds? [page is torn at bottom of this column and
top of the next, with loss of text] has been in the highest
esteem in all [ ] among all people: It made a
considerable [ ] discipline of the Pathagorians [ ]
draw the mind to lend his [ ] and to settle in it a
passionate love of Vir- [ ] sure to be needless to
enlarge on [ ] advantage of music in divine service. [
] tendency to promote a pious disposition of mind, [ ] it
will be allowed that we all have at some time or other [
] or suggested them. -- When we enter a place of worship,
while a number of our fellow creatures are, with voices and
instruments, pouring forth the praises of their creator, we
seem to be in the same state of mind that the devout
patriarch was when he awoke from his holy dream; and ready
with him, to say to ourselves, "Surely the Lord is in this
place, and I knew it not--How dreadful is this place! This
is none other but the House of God, and this is the Gate of
Heaven." It must be owned, indeed, that the force of music
may urge the passions to an excess, or it may fix them on
false and improper objects and may thus be pernicious in its
effects--The better thins are [ ]le to be abused--But
still the passions which it raises, thought they may be
misled or excessive, are of the benevolent and social kind,
and, in their intent at least, disinterested and noble. --
Authors have been at a loss how to express their opinion of
music strongly enough, but by inculcating that it was used
in heaven, and was one of the principal entertainments of
the Gods, and the souls of the blessed.--Under this
description of the exquisitely delightful properties of
music, and from an earnestness of zeal, dictated by the most
profound esteem toward the fair sex, to heighten if possible
the numberless [ ] charms by which nature hath already
rendered them amiable and irresistible, let me, once more,
recommend to them, as their stations in life may make it
suitable, the study of this divine art; --and to those whose
proper province it may be to concern themselves in the
ritual order or ceremony of our churches, I would seriously
advise the consideration of organic music therein, which in
all ages has been and must also indubitably be esteemed one
of the highest ornaments divine worship can receive.
I shall conclude this discourse with a part of Mr. Pope's
elegant Ode on Music.
Descend ye nine! descend and sing;
The breathing instruments inspire,
Wake into voice each silent spring,
And sweep the sounding lyre!
In a sadly-pleasing strain
Let the warbling lute complain:
Let the loud trumpet sound,
'Till the roofs all around
The shrill echo's resound,
While in more lengthen'd notes and slow
The deep majestic solemn organs blow.
Hark! the numbers soft and clear
Gently steal upon the ear;
Now louder and yet louder rise,
And fills with spreading [ ]
Music the fiercest grief can charm,
And fate's severest rage disarm:
Music can soften pain to ease,
And make despair and madness please:
Our joys below it can improve
And anticipate the bliss above.
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