The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, SEPT. 18, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 20 September 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, SEPT. 18, 1880.

In another column we reproduce a letter addressed by Professor Blackie to a Home paper. The subject is National Music. We are sure that the Professor's remarks will interest our readers, the majority of whom will doubtless concur in the ideas which he has so ably propounded. There is in thig district, as might be expected, a warm affection for the national music of Scotland. Mr. Keil Fleming is an enthusiastic champion for the mustf Jore of his native land. Who in this district liac not heard Him eloquently descanting on the subject ? and who has not felt that he has succeeded in making opt a fairly good case? We know of no man who has a greater antipathy for Italian music than Mr. Fleming, except it be Professor Blackie, Between these two advocates there appears to exist an understanding—tacit, we suppose—that they shall not only express the game sentiments, but that they shall do so in language strikingly • similar. Two year 3 ago, gfc ft jpeetiug of the Caledonian Society, Mr. Jlerjling fired one of his shot 3 into th® of musical connoisseurs, Said Jlr, Fleming on that occasion, "It is not Oflenbach's operas, or those of any other foreign composer, that can put valour into the hearts of a nation, or give strength to its arm. National music is called vulgar; but tkat is only because the music of the foreigner is much more fashionable." So ' far as we can remember, these are some | of the seutinients that W£i'o expressed by Mr. Fleming with considerable force.on that occasion. Do not our reaueps see the striking harmony that the sentiments of tho two fecottish patriots ? How well they run together in harness. According to both of them the ay-'<V pairi'z of every true Scotchman should cause him to exclude foreign musical fripperies from his music shelf. Such morsels are seductive, and gradually quench the old Celtic nre, substituting the fashionablencsa hat enervation of modem civilisation. But is there not a middle course in this, a3 in other ? We will endeavor to point out what wa bshjjye to fcs one. We yield the first place to nobody in ojjr admiration for national music. It is inspiriting ; it braces up the sinking heart; it piacea the warrior "shouther to shouther" with his daring ancestors. The " British Grenadiers March," "St. Patrick's Day," and last, but not least, the piper's " Bonnie Prince Charlie," have done as much execution on the battle field for Great Britain as all her munitions of wa? pyp together. But we cannot always play and ting these kindred aira. To drift away occasionally increases our regard for them. We return to them, a3 we do to a. frjepd after prolonged absence, with renewed affection, and a conviction that there is in thepi a charm not to be found in any other class of music. We are not aware whether Professor Blackie is as good an authority upon music as he is upon other scionces. We do not even know his capabilities as a vocalist. But we do know that Mr. Fleming can " sing a good song," and that

his innate musical taste is such as to at once place him in a high position as an authority in musical matters. h[v. Fleming would excel as an exponent of Italian music, and yet his cleverness as a Scotch song3ter would not suffer one iota. He would still ba &ble to charm an audience with " Tak' yer sji}4 cloak aboot ye" as effectively as ever. Thsrp is no reason why the people of anjf country should exclusively sing the mu&ia of that country. They should endeavor to become familiar with the excellences of foreign music, just as they do with the excellences of foreign nations. From both they may Learn a great deal, and nothing more surely than to admire a .cosmopolitan spirit and liberal views. There js no dan«er of becoming alienated from the •< Auld Scotch Sangs" by an indnlgonpe in other classes of music. If there was such a danger, then would wo go the whole len«th with Professor Blackie and Mr.

Fleming. The mnsicof a nation breathes the spirit of a nation. The death of a nation's music means the loss of a nation s identity. We need r>T>t yet apprehend any daniier of Scotland 8 nations! music becoming effete. It is ioo beautiful, and its beauty is recognised even by ' the foreigners whose music Mr. Fleming views. with%o much distaste. "Auld Robin Gray," "Ye Banksand Braes," and a dozen other Scotch morceaux of the same class—

fornnfortunately they can only be reckoned by tho dozen—enveloped in musical eoi.bellishinerits, have enthralled many a Continental audience. Wo have heard people express ft. preference for plain simple melodies, without puch embelishments, but these are musical diamonds that are all the better for are pictures that are all the better for framing. Continental nations know how to make good use of a gem, from whatever mine they may dig it. Should we not all do the same? Our position is that we are offered that for which we can make no commensurate return. If there is any reality about the science of music, Continental nations excel in it. We may not all be able to appreciate their musical creations but that may be the effect of a strong national, bias ; or, in some cases, an abaence of a faculty for realising any excellence in any muaical piece that has not been rendered familiar by a life-long acquaintanceship. We respect the opinions of the Professor and Mr. Fleming, but we think that tftere is no necessity to create a love for the , national music of their country by creating ; an antipathy for the music oJE other : countries. It is meritorious enough to 1

maintain its place against all competitors. Then, let our choice not be restricted. Let it extend over the whole world.. The comparatively small volume of Scotch, or even British, national aira would |all to gratify the yearnings of the devotees; of' the science of music. We say this with a full sense of the reverence that is due to the music of our forefather. We appreciate it as much as anybody; We love it none the less because we sometimes revel in music of a different class. Perhaps, after all} Professor Blackie s want of appreciation of foreign music may be attributed to an absence of musical taste. Of course, the Professor has struck a chord that has vibrated another in the heart of Mr. Fleming. But perhaps if the Professor attempted to. give the common chord of C, he would fail, or if lie were to join in any of those songs of which he speaks at the end of his letter, even his superior eloquence would not compensate the misery of his audience.