Curiosities of Music: A Collection of Facts not generally known, regarding the Music of Ancient and Savage NationsElson, Louis Charles
History
Curiosities of Music: A Collection of Facts not generally known, regarding the Music of Ancient and Savage Nations
Elson, Louis Charles
Music -- History and criticism
Chun also wrote a song in praise of agriculture. In the year 2284 B. C.,
he established uniformity of weight and measure, as well as a fixed
diapason throughout the empire, and endeavored to have all the bells
made in just proportions to each other. He also caused to be composed, a
melody celebrating the nine principal virtues; it was accompanied with
dances, in nine parts and contained nine modulations; it was named
_Siao-chao_ from the instruments which the dancers held in their hand.
Chun established five grand ceremonials, in each of which music bore a
part. First, a ceremony of rejoicing, in honor of Chang-ti (the supreme
being) and of the celestial spirits. Second, a festival in honor of the
ancestors. Third, a military celebration, in honor of the former
dissensions of the empire having given way to a tranquil peace. Fourth,
a feast dedicated to courtesy, when the beauties of concord and goodwill
were sung. Fifth and last, a ceremony in which the inter-dependence of
man was remembered, and the manifold blessings accruing by mutual
beneficence, chanted.
Chun also appointed a superintendent of music, who was to see that the
art was always exercised in its proper direction.
Kouei was appointed censor, and the instructions of the emperor to him,
are full of good sense. “Music should follow the sense of the words.”
“It should be simple and unaffected.” “Music is an expression of the
soul of the musician;” such sentiments as these show a keen appreciation
of the art, which seems all the more singular when we think of the
peculiar music to which it relates. The music of the time of Chun, is
rapturously eulogized by Confucius.
Yu, the great, only followed the example of his predecessors in setting
to music the most moral precepts and praising virtue, in song. It may
perhaps have been this association of high thoughts and ideas, the noble
character of the poetry, which gave music such a charm in the eyes of
the ancient Chinese. Yu made use of some primitive instruments, in a new
and very laudable manner;[95] desirous of being easily accessible to all
his subjects, he caused to be placed at a gate of his palace, five
instruments of percussion, which were to be struck by any applicant,
according to the nature of his business with the emperor.
A large bell announced a person who desired to complain of an injustice;
a drum signified a communication respecting the manners of the empire;
and a small bell, private or confidential business; a _tam-tam_, a
public or private misfortune; a tambourine, an accusation of crime which
was appealed from some lower tribunal to the adjudication of the
emperor.
This kindly emperor, regulated what was still deficient in music, and
did it so thoroughly that no further changes were necessary until the
Hia dynasty became extinct. The last of the above mentioned dynasty was
(for a change) a most vicious emperor. Kie was, according to the
chroniclers, a sort of Mongolian Caligula, and his memory is execrated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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