| Citation |
NYJ-N.770.126
4 Oct 1770:33 (1448)
D. Propert, Professor of Music, takes this method of
acquainting the ladies and gentlemen of this city, that he
teaches the organ, harpsichord, guittar, German flute, &c.
and has a variety of new music, Roman strings for violins,
and musical instruments, among which is a very fine toned
harpsichord and a forte piano; all which he disposes of at
Mr. Philip Kissick's, wine merchant, the upper end of Queen-
Street. The above D. Propert, gives out plans for organs,
from 35l. to 500l. and every business in the musical way
done with the greatest honour and expedition. Music has
ever been held in the highest esteem, by the most exalted
characters, and finest geniuses of almost every age and
nation. The pleasing sensations and fine movements of the
various passions which music is capable of exciting in the
human breast, have deservedly placed it in the highest class
of mechanical, and most pleasing of the liberal arts. Tho'
the body and mind are so very different in their natures,
there is such an intimate relation between them, that they
are mutually affected, in a very high degree, by each other;
when either is disordered and uneasy, the other
participates, and becomes incapable of a free exercise of
its natural powers; In like manner, when either the body or
mind can exercise its faculties with the greatest freedom
and alacrity, they are each mutually affected, and are then
in the fittest disposition for the most noble employments of
which their natures are capable. Music, which is an
agreeable modulation of sounds harmonizing with the tone of
the nerves and organs of hearing in the human body, has a
most powerful influence in producing such bodily sensations,
as affect the mind, with the various passions of which those
sounds are expressive; and is therefore capable of raising
the soul into dispositions for the most pleasing, useful and
noble purposes. Music says Mr. Addison, when thus applied,
raises noble hints in the mind of the hearer, and fills it
with great conceptions; it strengthens devotion and advances
praise into rapture; it lengthens every act of worship and
produces more lasting and permanent impressions in the mind,
then those which accompany any transient forms of words that
are uttered in the ordinary method of religious worship;
pleasure and duty, go hand in hand, and the greater our
satisfaction is, the greater is our religion. There is no
other art so various perhaps and universal in its influence,
as music. It inkindles in battle, and elevates in the
temple: Solemnizes the funeral and exhilerates the banquet;
transports us in the chorus and ravishes in the solo parts;
cheers and inspirits in the chace and ball room, and lulls
and composes in the grove and bed chamber; it sooths in
distress, amuses in melancholy, and entertains in solitude;
and as it charms and harmonizes youth, it delights and
solaces old age; nay, it melts the tyrant into tenderness
and softens the barbarian into sense and civility; it may be
said to be the very language of nature, and almost coeval
with nature itself; for it has expression for all the
various passions and emotions of the heart and soul, and
like painting and beauty is not confined to any one
particular nation, but understood and admired all the world
over; and like poetry and religion, the most authentic as
well as the most sublime and inspired memorials of
antiquity, abound with instances of its marvellous effect.
It cannot therefore be wondered at, that this art has
obtained the patronage, regard and praises of the greatest
personages, and hath been the delight and study of every
polished and ingenious nation, in all climates and in all
ages.
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