The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-14
VERY FINE MUSIC IN RUSSIA.
The Beautiful Choir OF the Imperiai
Chapel tn st. Petersburg.
E'p1tp me fgye5eoy tV,,Jy

Chapel tn st. Petersburg.
From tie Ittsicdl World.
II is singular fact that in Greek and
Russian churches congregational singing
is absolutely forbidden. The music is
sung in four-part harmony, without in.
strumental accompaniment, by the priest
choir, TO silent congregation. The
priests maintain that this custom Is In
strict accordance with the earliest and
purest form of Christian wor-
ship. Furthermore, the con.
gregation were forbidden to sing
by an ordinance OF the Council Of La
dolta, In the year 1854, the reason as
signed being that the Christian tunes
even ut that remote period had become
corrupt every man singing his own
version in violation of decency and con
cord" This singing with the spirit and
understanding also is certainly conducive
to more worthy and reverent celebra-
tion of praise, as many OF those who
are condemned TO listen to the
uncouth noises indulgcd in by many
earnest, though musically undisciplined,
Christians of the present day are wont to
declare. The Russian chants are akin to
the Gregoran, being unbarred melodies,
destitute of rhythm. There are eight Of
them in use, which are changed every
week, and all of them are stated to have
been the work of st. John of Damascus,
and have retained their original force
ever since.
Throughout Russia the same ritual
music is used in every church with de-
sirable uniformity. Some of these melo-
dies were printed in 1712, and have since
been reproduced in modern notation As
rule. they are sung by four male voices
with magnificent effect. The quality Of
mems voices in Russia, especially
basses, is exceptionally fine,
some of the bAsses being
of such unusual depth that they have a
special part assigned them an octave be-
low the real part. These are called "oc-
tavists," and not few of them can take
the F below &C, Such exceptional
voices are found chiefly in North Russia,
where contralto voices of unusual depth
and sorority are also to be met with.
The tenors and male and female
sopranos for the most part come
from the southern portion of the
country. The Imperial Chapel in
st. Petersburg possesses the finest
choir in Russia. 1t numbers 100 voices,
exclusively made up of men and boys.
The members of this imperial choir are
carefully selected, have no other occupa-
tion, and preserve their voices with the
utmost care. They study vocalization
for an hour and half daily
under Italian masters, besides
receiving regular instruction in
church style under native teachers.
Several modern composers have contrib
uted notes specially written for the
choir, among whom may be mentioned
Bortnianski, Galuppy, Davydoff, Bere-
sovsky and Turchaninoff-the last-named
is specially esteemed. In all these mod
ern productions fugal imitation is rare, the
voices moving together in compact
masses, thus preserving the Characters
tics of the old church chant. 1t is a
wise enactment that no church
music can be printed or performed
in Russia until it has first re.
ceived the sanction of the proper authori-
ties. By such means its purity is pre-.
served intact. Won Moltke, the veteran
general, asserts that "the music
of the Russian church is as far
removed from the meager hymns of
professionalism as from the operatic music
Of the Roman Catholic church." 1t GER
tainly does possess distinctive charac-
ter, and is eminently fitted to its purpose.
Its simple dignity is strikingly impress
sive, but 1t must not be forgotten that its
effect is largely dependent on the manner
of its presentations.