New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-02
RUSSIAN Church MUSIC
A New Sensation for Concert
g0erS.

Save for those who have heard the mu-
sic OF the Russian Church in Russia, at
the beautiful chapel near Wiesbaden or
of late in the cathedral in East 9th
street. this city, there was new sensa-
ton at the concert which the choir OF
the cathedral gave in Aeolian Hall last
night. Not only the music, but the man
ner OF its performance, opened up new
world OF sensations which were particu-
larry delightful because of their remote
ness from everything known to the lyric
stage and concert room. The choir, which
has been developed to a high state OF eff
;iciency hy Mr.. Gorokhoff. who was
brought here for the purpose from Mos
COW. as commanded by the rubrics of the
Russian Church. Is composed wholly OF
boys and mems voices, but its constitu-
tion is different from that of the choirs
Of our Episcopal churches, and this diff
ference is recognized in the music The
boys are relatively much more numerous
than the men 0enors and lasses), and
among the mature voices there is one
which has no existence outside OF the
Russian people. II is a contra bass Of
most extraordinary depth, power and
quality. voice which although repre-
scented by only one singer in the local
cathedral choir. suhlces TO give founda-
ton To the music for which our choirs
have to depend upon the organ.
Russian music. sacred as well as secu-
lar. has zone through many vicisstudes
during the centuries since Christianity
% IL, Oh ;, h. H..
the Church has held unswervingly to one
relic of the ancient Greek Church in the
prohibition of all instruments. even the
organ. The contra-bass singer heard last
night, Mr.. Khromoff. vas also brought
from his native land to make a proper
performance Of the liturascal music posi-
ble here. and he is IN admirable expo
nent Of his art. What the downward
range of his voice may be cannot be said;
last night he descended 10 + fiat below
the bass staff. and even on that abysmal-
~ low note it rolled through the room
like the sound Of great organ pipe. lts
quality is reedy, and might ne mistaken
for that OF a contra-ba ssOoI II Is not
only the most characteristic feature Of
the choir but also its most admirable.
for, compared with the best OF our vested
choirs dhat OF the Cathedral o. -. John,
for example, the BOYS lack volume,
though they sing difficult music with 4
precision. a purity of intouation and a
sweetness OF tone which speak OF intelii-
gent and discreet training. bus the tcnors
and what we must call tile first BASES ara
distinctly crud. Nevertheless, the gen
cral effect, especially In soft. hcmophonic
passages. was frequently beautiful.
The music sung last night was repre-
sentative Of the modern school There
was an echo Of Gregorian influences in
Collect for Christmas by Lvovsky. and
the characteristics Of Russian folksonG
were reflected i'm q nymn from tho COM
munion service by SchvedoG both in mel
ody and harmonic and polyphonic treat
ment. but there was no trace 81 the Ital-
ian style which held sway in Russia In the
eighteenth century. IL was noticeable
that the nearer the music approached IN"
true national touc the more interesting II
became. and the moro the dubious refine
ments Of modern harmonization were at
tempted the smaller was the degree OF
ouphony attained. The composers repre-
scented I'm the list were Tschcsnokon. Tschai-
kowsty. Schvedor Rachmaninoff, Rimsky.
KorsskoT. Byovsky. hrkhangclsky. lpp"-
litoff- Ivanon. Gretchaninoff and kastal-
SKY. \ fine audience manifested great In
tercst and delight I'm the music. and there
can be no doubt that second concert
would be welcomed and would serve an
excellent purpose In more respects than
"a L. X