Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-01-25
MUSIC IN RUSSIA.
Congret ~tionai Singing Forbidden In the
Churches.

Churches.
1t is a singular fact that in Greek
and Russian churches congregational
singing is absolutely forbidden. The
music is sung in four-part harmony,
without instrumental accompaniment,
by the priest choir, to silent congre-
cation. The priests maintain that this
custom is in strict accordance with the
earliest and purest form of Christian
worship. Furthermore, the congrega
ton was forbidden to sing by an ordi
nance of the council of Ladoika, in
the year 364, the reason assigned being
that the Christian tunes even at that
remote period had become corrupted
every man singing his own version
in violation of decency and concord"
This singing with the spirit and under
more worthy and reverent celebra-
ton of praise, as many of those who
are condemned to listen to the un-
couth noises INDUCED in by many
earnest though unsteady undisci
plined Christians of the present day
are wont to declare.
The Russian chants are akin to the
Gregorian, 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 desirable uniform
ity. Some of these melodies were
printed in 1772 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 Rus
STA, especially BASES, is exceptionally
fine, some of the BASES being of such
unusual depth that they have special
part assigned them an octave below
the real part. These are called ''oc-
tavists," and not a few of them can
take the f below &C. Such excep-
tional 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. Peters
burg possesses the finest choir in Rus
sia 1t numbers 120 voices, exclu-
sively made up of men and boys. The
members of this imperial choir are
carefully selected, have no other occu-
patton. and preserve their voices with
the utmost care. They study vocaliza-
ton for an hour and half daily UNI
der Italian masters, besides receiving
regular instruction in church style
under native teachers. Several mod
ern composers have contributed notes
specially written for the choir among
whom may be mentioned Bortnianski
Galuppy, Davydof, Beresovsky and
Turchaninoff-t last named is spe
cially esteemed.
In all these modern productions
fugal imitation is rare. the voices NOV
ing together in compact masses, thus
preserving the characteristics of the
old church chant. 1t is wise enact
ment that no church music can be
printed or performed in Russia until it
has first received the sanction of the
proper authorities. BY such means its
purity is preserved intact. Won
Moltkc, the veteran general, asserts
that the music of the Russian church
is as far removed from the meager
hymns of Professionalism as from the
operate music of the Roman Catholic
church." 1t certainly does possess a
distinctive character, and is emlnently
fitted to its purpose. Its simple dignity
is strikingly impressive but it must
not be forgotten that its effect is largely
dependent on the manner of its presen-
tatiOn Musical Herald.