Two centuries ago, Joseph Addison tells us in the character of Mr
Spectator - L When I travelled I took a particular delight in
hearing the songs and fables that are come down from father to son,
and are most in vogue among the common people of the countries
through which I passed for it is impossible that anything should be
universally tasted and approved of by a multitude, though they are
only the rabble of the nation, which hath not in it some peculiar
aptness to please and gratify the mind of man Spectator . He
further says - An ordinary song or ballad, that is the delight of
the common people, cannot fail to please all such readers as are
not unqualified for the enter- tainment by their affectation or
ignorance. It was not only the cultured Mr Addison who recognised
the claims of the peoples songs as expressive of sentiments that
were worthy the consideration of the more learned, for quotation
upon quotation could be given of examples where the refined and
learned have found in the primitive song that which appealed in the
highest degree. The moderns need no excuse for the study of
folk-song, and few will regard the consideration of peoples-lore as
an idle amusement. The present essay is put forth with all
diffidence as a very slight dissertation upon a complex subject,
and it does not pretend to do more than enter into the fringe of
it. The younger of the present generation have seen the gradual
speeding up of technique in composition and performance, but with
this increased standard there has been a tendency to let fall
certain very sacred and essential things that belong to musical
art. In too many cases the composer has not quite justified the
complexity of his composition while glorying in the skill of his
craftsmanship he has too frequently forgotten the primitive demand
for art and beauty, apart from technical elaboration. That type of
simple melody that formerly pleased what we might regard as a less
cultured age, holds no place in present-day composition or in the
esteem of a certain class...
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