45, we entered the cathedral by the
transept door. The moon shone brightly and we easily found our way into
the nave; and sitting down, awaited the development of events. The
shadows cast by the moonlight were very weird and ghostly in their
effect; and had we been at all impressionable, we should doubtless have
wished ourselves back again. After remaining some time, however, we came
to the conclusion that we had come upon a foolish errand, and had just
risen to go, when an exquisite strain of very soft music came from the
organ. We listened spell-bound, rooted to the spot. The theme was
simple, almost Gregorian in its character, but handled in a most
masterly way. Such playing I had never before heard; it was the very
perfection of style.
"We were listening evidently to what was an opening prelude, for several
different subjects were introduced and only partially worked out.
"Several times I fancied a resemblance to the old Credo, and once
distinctly caught a well-known phrase; my doubts were soon solved,
however, for in a few moments we heard it in its entirety.
"You know how difficult it is to put one's impressions of music into
words; language never fully expresses them. Music can be easily
described in dry technical language, the language which deals in
'discords and their resolutions,' but that does not express its
influence upon ourselves.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173