Music

Music." BY OSCAR A. KIRKHAM, OF THE L. D. S. UNIVERSITY, AND MEMBER OF THE Y. M. M. I. A. GENERAL BOARD. The great, parched desert, longing for the refreshing rain, might be compared to the American people longing for expression in the great art of music. The willingness to spend millions of dollars annually for the support of great artists is only one evi- dence. The old world may boast of her past, with Mozart, Handel, Beethoven, Wagner and others, with their wonderful works of art, but I sincerely bslieve the great future belongs to America. We take advantage of their works and progress, and work with new people, with new hopes and aspirations, and not in any section of our fair land are there greater possibilities and probabil- ities for development than among the Latter-day Saints, with their intense religious feelings, and their great love for this art. We might go one step farther,. and say that among our own people no organization should be more responsible for this progress than the Mutual Improvement Associations. But are we doing our part? The Sunday schools and Primaries are progressing; the ward choirs are working as best they can, but I must confess that when I was requested to represent this work on the Y. M. M. I. A. board, and when I went to look for the musical organization through which I might work and be of assistance, I found practi- cally none. Let us hope, in the year's work that is before us, we will perfect our organization along this line, and unitedly make possible the advancement of this uplifting art among our people. *An address delivered at the Annual M. I. A. Conference, Sunday, June 5, 1910, at the Salt Lake Tabernacle.

MUSIC. 1009 A joint committee of the young; ladies' and young men's associa- tions should be appointed in each ward, who would work unitedly in furnishing the musical programs for regular weekly preliminary and conjoint Sunday evening meetings, entertainments, concerts, and, when possible, the presentation of operettas, cantatas, ora- torios and operas. Permanently organized mutual choirs are discouraged, from the fact that it is generally impossible for more than one organiza- tion of this kind to exist in a ward, the support of the people being rightly given to the ward choir. The young ladies may, however, have their ladies' chorus and the young men their male chorus, and these may unite at times for the presentation of special musical works which might be suggested from time to time through the medium of our magazines. Would not work of this kind help to supplement the crying need of something to take the place of " the dance? Very often there are excellent singers among the young ladies and men of our wards who do not care to join the regular ward choirs, but who would delight in joining a chorus of young and happy singers, which had for its object the presentation of some light opera or oratorio. An organization of this kind affords the best example of a true democracy. It unites young people in doing a common good. Let us spend some of the splendid time we are now using, perhaps, in scolding young people or parading their faults before them, in assisting them to unite in the refining labor of presenting some beautiful musical work. The best way to help the boys and girls is to give them some good work to do. It is also suggested that both stake boards have musical rep- resentatives who should work together for the betterment of the cond;tions in the stake and for the preparation of music at con- ferences. In one of the stakes, during the past season, where the young men and young ladies of the different wards meet for preliminary programs, the lives of the different great musicians have been discussed and some of their music has been performed. This is an excellent idea, and has proved extremely entertaining and educational. In some of the stakes which embrace Salt Lake City and

1010 IMPROVEMENT ERA. vicinity, a number of the professional people have very generously taken their pupils on the Sunday evenings of our conjoint work and given song services. While these entertainments have proved very entertaining, and accomplished good, still, it has been sug- gested by the young men's general board that some good speaker be allowed a short time on these programs to address the splendid audiences which have been attracted by the beautiful singing. At the reception given to Commodore Dewey, at his home- coming after his heroic work in the Spanish-American war, two thousand members of the choral societies, to one of whieh I had the pleasure of belonging, went out on the United States battle- ships and sang the Hallelujah Chorus. The sailors leaned against the sides of the vessels and cried for their native land. Then six thousand voices greeted him on the shore and sangj "Behold, the Conquering Hero Comes!" Dewey said that nothing in all his lavish receptions touched him as this did. Music goes to the real self and awakens it to the best in life. This is a much better way of expressing our patriotism than with guns and firecrackers. If we will sing often, in our associations and our homes, the songs of our Nation, there shall never be any question as to our patriotism. Someone has said, "Let me write the songs of the nation, and I care not who writes the laws." In a like manner we should never tire in singing the hymns of our Church, the heart-songs of our people. The youth of Zion will never fail in holding up the faith of their fathers if they will ever sing with spirit and meaning those glorious songs. The beauty of their texts and the inspiration of their history will live forever. Let us hope that at some not far distant time the musical forces of the young ladies' and young men's associations will be so perfected, and their labors so active that it will be possible for us to call their stake and ward officers together at these annual conferences and plan for musical contests and festivals which will become an inspiration to our young people, and the admira- tion of our Church. Is it possible? Yes! And may the Lord inspire us, and may we work for its accomplishment.