-
Articles/Ads
Article ON THE MUSIC OF THE ANCIENTS. ← Page 2 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Music Of The Ancients.
extols Music in a higher strain of panegyric than either Orator } '' or Poetry ; he regards it not only as an innocent amusement , or harm- > less relaxation , but as a source of elegant enjoyment , contributing to happiness by constituting an essential part of * all liberal festivity : whence , he saj-s , that the poets always represented song and music as forming a part of the entertainment at all the feasts of the gods . He represents it also as a balm and cure for the toils and cares of
human life . Horace , doubtless , had these sentiments of the Grecian philosophers in his ej - e , when he thus addressed his lyre : O ( Iecus Phoebi , et dapibus supremi Grata testudo Jovis ; O laborum Dulce Ienimen NayAristotle respresents Music as being subservient to purposes
, Still more important , b } ' its efficacy in contracting the passions , regulating the affections , inspiring noble sentiments , and promoting virtue . Hence , in his treatise on politics , he reckons music to be one Of the four branches of a liberal education , or of that in which the sons of freemen ought to be instructed . Can we easily conceive , that a judge of such exquisite discernmentwould have been so warm
in his praises , and so earnest in his recommendation , of Music , if it had not surpassed the rude singing of African tribes or American Indians , and had been incjpable of affording genuine delight to persons of delicate refinement ? This reasoning appears conclusive , however difficult it may be for us to reconcile the notion of much excellence in the Grecian Music with the fancied" superiority of modern improvements in that art .
The four brandies of education , in which Aristotle thinks that all the sons of freemen ought to be instructed , are , letters , gymnastic exercises , Music , and drawing , or the graphic art . Plato complains that since the time of the Persian invasion , much degSneracy had taken place in the political constitution , as well as in the manners of the Athenians ; and he ascribes it chiefly to the changes and irregularities which had been introduced into their
poetry and music . These , he says , had been followed by want of respect and disobedience to fathers , seniors , and magistrates , with a disregard of the laws , of good faidi , of oaths , and of the gods . It would appear from some passages in Plato that Music , ( doubtless including poetry ) with gymnastic exercises , constituted the principal part of an Athenian education ; and that it was enjoined by the laws
of the Athenians , that the children of citizens should be instructed in both . When Socrates represents his country as remonstrating with him against any attempt to escape from prison , the following is a part of the expostulation , which he supposes his country to address to him . ' Do you disapprove of the laws which enjoined your father to
instruct you in music and gymnastic exercises ? ' In another passage , Socrates is introduced thus addressing a young man : ' Has not your father given you the same course of education , which the sons . of all worthy fathers receive at Athens—has he not taken care to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Music Of The Ancients.
extols Music in a higher strain of panegyric than either Orator } '' or Poetry ; he regards it not only as an innocent amusement , or harm- > less relaxation , but as a source of elegant enjoyment , contributing to happiness by constituting an essential part of * all liberal festivity : whence , he saj-s , that the poets always represented song and music as forming a part of the entertainment at all the feasts of the gods . He represents it also as a balm and cure for the toils and cares of
human life . Horace , doubtless , had these sentiments of the Grecian philosophers in his ej - e , when he thus addressed his lyre : O ( Iecus Phoebi , et dapibus supremi Grata testudo Jovis ; O laborum Dulce Ienimen NayAristotle respresents Music as being subservient to purposes
, Still more important , b } ' its efficacy in contracting the passions , regulating the affections , inspiring noble sentiments , and promoting virtue . Hence , in his treatise on politics , he reckons music to be one Of the four branches of a liberal education , or of that in which the sons of freemen ought to be instructed . Can we easily conceive , that a judge of such exquisite discernmentwould have been so warm
in his praises , and so earnest in his recommendation , of Music , if it had not surpassed the rude singing of African tribes or American Indians , and had been incjpable of affording genuine delight to persons of delicate refinement ? This reasoning appears conclusive , however difficult it may be for us to reconcile the notion of much excellence in the Grecian Music with the fancied" superiority of modern improvements in that art .
The four brandies of education , in which Aristotle thinks that all the sons of freemen ought to be instructed , are , letters , gymnastic exercises , Music , and drawing , or the graphic art . Plato complains that since the time of the Persian invasion , much degSneracy had taken place in the political constitution , as well as in the manners of the Athenians ; and he ascribes it chiefly to the changes and irregularities which had been introduced into their
poetry and music . These , he says , had been followed by want of respect and disobedience to fathers , seniors , and magistrates , with a disregard of the laws , of good faidi , of oaths , and of the gods . It would appear from some passages in Plato that Music , ( doubtless including poetry ) with gymnastic exercises , constituted the principal part of an Athenian education ; and that it was enjoined by the laws
of the Athenians , that the children of citizens should be instructed in both . When Socrates represents his country as remonstrating with him against any attempt to escape from prison , the following is a part of the expostulation , which he supposes his country to address to him . ' Do you disapprove of the laws which enjoined your father to
instruct you in music and gymnastic exercises ? ' In another passage , Socrates is introduced thus addressing a young man : ' Has not your father given you the same course of education , which the sons . of all worthy fathers receive at Athens—has he not taken care to