Editorial September 17, 1921 Issue

Music and Musicians

Gustavus S. Paine

Music , humanly interpreted, is one of the most emotional concepts of mortal mind. By those who have investigated the belief it is supposed that sound is a more emotional stimulus than some of the other sense impressions. For this reason the student of Christian Science needs to be especially alert in accepting only the truth about sound and in rejecting a mere human sense impression as arousing false emotion. Because human psychology is counterfeit of the understanding of the divine Mind, psychological reasoning as to the pleasure of music must be replaced by the truth. Divine Principle is the sole power able to move man, and divine Principle is continually stimulating calm, right action. Thus the real music produces not human feelings, either of joy or sadness, but is inseparable from unfolding wholeness of living.

Any earthly sound is of no value in itself. If one desires to hear mere sounds, either separately or in combinations, for themselves, as a sensuous and emotional experience, one is not comprehending the divine Mind's infinity of expression, which is the true sound, or music. Thus Mrs. Eddy states in the Manual of The Mother Church (p. 61): "The music in The Mother Church shall not be operatic, but of an appropriate religious character and of a recognized standard of musical excellence; it shall be played in a dignified and suitable manner." It is the divine Mind's idea of spiritual order that counts, not simply a human sense of arranged sound.

What the real man hears is divine intelligence alone. One's whole attention therefore should be given to Principle, for in the one intelligent Principle, infinite Mind, is to be found the truth of harmony, which is quite apart from any belief in mortal emotions. As Mrs. Eddy says on pages 106 and 107 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "Music is the harmony of being; but the music of Soul affords the only strains that thrill the chords of feeling and awaken the heart's harpstrings. Moved by mind, your many-throated organ, in imitative tones of many instruments, praises Him; but even the sweetness and beauty in and of this temple that praise Him, are earth's accents, and must not be mistaken for the oracles of God. Art must not prevail over Science."

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