The most beautiful part of the Russian divine service, which none who is not devoid both of ear and heart, can listen to without emotion, is the singing. It can scarcely be praised enough. Fortunately the Greek church does not admit instrumental music, and cannot therefore fall into the error of our Catholic churches, where violins, drums, and trumpets, sometimes drive all piety out of the temple, by the )rofanost of all nunsio. Unfortunately, however, the sublime orgau is also banished. The Russians often envy our organ, and express a wish that it could be admitted into their churches.
We are far from meaning to compare the Russian Greek church music, on the whole, vnth the Roman Catholic. That would be as senseless as to place the sweet nmrmurs of the iEoUan harp on the same level as the full swell of a complete orchestra. The Russian church melody can never obtain the high perfection attained by that of the Cathohcs, and if on the one hand some musical absm'dlties, or at least what appear such in a place of worship, are avoided in Russia, on the other hand, Russian church music never can rise to the sublimity and inspiration which, in some of the Catholic psalms, unite in the Creator's praise. There is no degree, no variety in it ; all is a sweet, harmonious murnmr. A " Creation," a " Last Judgment," a " Requiem," could never find birth in Russian church music. How, indeed, could a gentle child conceive such mighty thoughts ? It is like the monotonous whisper of the brook set to music. The chief part turns on the words " Gospodi pomilui" (Lord, have mercy), " Gospodi pomolimsa" (Lord, we pray thee), '• Padai Gospodi" (Grant this, O Lord). With these words the singers continually interrupt the prayers of the priest. The different modulations of the melodies on these few words form the chief study of the Russian choristers ; during a many-hours' service they are only occasionally varied by a psalm or two, and a prayer for the emperor. There is a particular institution in St. Petersburg for the instruction of singers for the imperial chapel. The last director is said to have been a composer of distinguished merit, and he is looked upon as the founder of the new style of church music. The institution instructs about one hundred youths, from the ages of seven to eighteen, who are to supply the vacancies as they arise in the imperial chapel, and the demand is said to be very considerable, either because the Russian male voices are soon worn out, or because the style of church singing quickly injures them. Every Saturday during the winter there is a rehearsal of what is to be sung in the chapel next day. Some other choice morceaux are usually added, to make up a concert, at which there is always a numerous auditory, as it is easy to get tickets. At these rehearsals it is not alone the pupils of the institution who are heard, but aU the men belonging to the chapel likewise assist. The extremes of the ages are seven and forty years. They are extremely fastidious with the men's voices. So soon as a bass shows the slightest mark of decay, he is pensioned off.
It requires some little time to get thoroughly used to things altogether new and foreign to us. We see every thing individually at first, and cannot seize the whole comiection. A longer abode in a foreign land is necessary to enable us to see the threads that produce the web, the sources whence the different rivers How. We understand Russian church music better, the more we know of the people, and the more we have sounded the original channel of the national character from which it is dra^vn ; their national songs, their horn music, thenRalalaik tinkling, are all of them the offspring of the same stock.
Female voices are never heard in the Russian churches, their place is supplied by boys ; women do not yet stand high enough in the estimation of the church, or of the people, to be permitted to sing the praises of God in the presence of men.
It is a great point in a Russian church to have a few good bass voices ; considerable expense is incurred on their account, the best voices being