Address on Sacred Music
Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Christian Sermons, Christian Literature
| Author: | John Williamson Nevin | ISBN: | 1230001946109 |
| Publisher: | CrossReach Publications | Publication: | October 1, 2017 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | John Williamson Nevin |
| ISBN: | 1230001946109 |
| Publisher: | CrossReach Publications |
| Publication: | October 1, 2017 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
NATURE, as well as revelation, has thrown a peculiar interest around the whole subject of Music. The science of sounds is, in itself, wonderful and mysterious. As it unfolds itself to the inquiring student, he is amazed to find, that, where he had dreamed of almost none, the most perfect and immutable system reigns. He learns, that the vast variety of tones, with which the ear may be assailed, are not, in their nature, that confused and anarchial multitude, without distinctions of right, and without abiding relation, which he once imagined; but, that they form, on the contrary, a regular society, pervaded throughout with the principle of order and definite law. A natural and original proportion is discovered to have place through the universal family. Sound stands related to sound in natural position and place; and yet more mysteriously in native constitution. This last is a relation of essential and original character, as its peculiarity in one is found more or less congenial with its peculiarity in another. Every sound has, as it were, a genius and a temper, more or less accordant with the genius and the temper of its companions, and the intimacy of its communion with each of them is graduated by the measure of this sympathy alone. Hence, while some sounds can never associate with the smallest friendship, others are adapted to unite in concurrent harmony, or to proceed in close succession with the movement of melody. This agreement the ear is constituted by the Almighty to feel, as truly as the eye is framed to perceive the relations of beauty in the visible world. The field of sound has its scenery of variety, resemblance, and proportion, equally with the field of light, and displays in its arrangement the same wonderful adaptation to the mental constitution of man. On investigation, it is found, that this connexion is suited in its nature to become a source of important moral results. Sound strangely corresponds with feeling, and is fitted to wield, by the magic of its combinations, a most powerful control over all the machinery of the heart.
NATURE, as well as revelation, has thrown a peculiar interest around the whole subject of Music. The science of sounds is, in itself, wonderful and mysterious. As it unfolds itself to the inquiring student, he is amazed to find, that, where he had dreamed of almost none, the most perfect and immutable system reigns. He learns, that the vast variety of tones, with which the ear may be assailed, are not, in their nature, that confused and anarchial multitude, without distinctions of right, and without abiding relation, which he once imagined; but, that they form, on the contrary, a regular society, pervaded throughout with the principle of order and definite law. A natural and original proportion is discovered to have place through the universal family. Sound stands related to sound in natural position and place; and yet more mysteriously in native constitution. This last is a relation of essential and original character, as its peculiarity in one is found more or less congenial with its peculiarity in another. Every sound has, as it were, a genius and a temper, more or less accordant with the genius and the temper of its companions, and the intimacy of its communion with each of them is graduated by the measure of this sympathy alone. Hence, while some sounds can never associate with the smallest friendship, others are adapted to unite in concurrent harmony, or to proceed in close succession with the movement of melody. This agreement the ear is constituted by the Almighty to feel, as truly as the eye is framed to perceive the relations of beauty in the visible world. The field of sound has its scenery of variety, resemblance, and proportion, equally with the field of light, and displays in its arrangement the same wonderful adaptation to the mental constitution of man. On investigation, it is found, that this connexion is suited in its nature to become a source of important moral results. Sound strangely corresponds with feeling, and is fitted to wield, by the magic of its combinations, a most powerful control over all the machinery of the heart.
