Christian Science and Music

In the thirty-third chapter of Ezekiel this statement is made, "And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not." After mortal man has outgrown the mental state of antagonism and prejudice and reached that of willingness, he often rests upon his oars, content to listen to the labor of others and be entertained by their joys, but still asleep to his own. Willingness is only half the requirement for real joy. J. Stuart Mill says, "Halfness is the great enemy of spiritual worth; whatever shames half doing out of men is of unspeakable value." Half-doing not only achieves mediocre results but encourages the bad habit of being satisfied with those results. One may hear fine concerts and operas, or listen to Christian Science Lesson-Sermons and lectures; one may read the rules of harmony in music or in Science and Health, but unless he actually puts them into practice, he is still asleep to his God-given dominion and joy. Jesus gave the bugle call that lifts mortal man out of this lethargic, listening state when he said, "Go, and do thou likewise." It is only through his actions or works that a man proves how much he really knows and understands. Though he may stumble and fall it is by this very experience that he learns. By this method the child is often taught to walk alone, and by it each one can gain dominion and the joy that really satisfies. Isaiah fully realized this when he said, "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land," also when he says of God's elect, "Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."

Recently I was brought in contact with a very old piano which had been sadly neglected for many years. As my fingers glided over the keys the discordant jumble of noise hurt one's finer sensibility. In a few days the piano tuner arrived and after many hours' work, lo! what beautiful tones emitted from the very same instrument. It was evident that the perfect, harmonious condition had been present and possible all the time but was only realized through the one who knew the truth about the instrument. The more discordant and false the note, the more persistently and steadfastly the tuner held to the perfect standard tone until the error gave way before the perfect realization of harmony. The man who knows and is governed by the law of good, restores perfect harmony by knowing and holding steadfastly to the truth about God and man.

While listening to a wonderful concert by a world-renowned pianist, I sought to determine the reasons for his superiority over others, and the following two seemed the most distinguishing: first, the ineffable ease and rapidity with which he performed the most gigantic and intricate technicalities; and second and most conclusively, the sweetness and evenness of tone in the simpler parts. Technically, any average piano student could have played these phrases, but it was the quality of touch and sweetness of expression that reflected infinite patience and self-mastery, besides a love that was deep enough to perfect even the most obscure parts. It has been said that the degree of thoroughness in trifles is what distinguishes the artist from the amateur. In this age of speed and luxury, mortal mind hastens to do the big, showy things in life and thereby often loses the sweetest of all experiences, the joy of simplicity, the being faithful over a few things.