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CHAPTER XXI. |
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THE AMBROSIA*: AND GREGORIAN CHANT.
St Ambrose, the tirst real reformer in the music of the Christian Church, was born A. D. 333, probably at Treves, where his father who was prefect of Gaul, often resided. He is said to have received an auspicious omen even in his cradle; a swarm of bees alighted upon him during his slumber, and the astonished nurse saw that they did not sting him, but clustered around his lips; his father, remembering a similar wonder related of Plato, predicted a high destiny for his son. He was therefore, thoroughly educated in his youth, and soon was sent with Satyrus, his brother, to Milan to study law.
He soon became so eminent in this profession, that he was appointed (a. d. 369) prefect of upper Italy and Milan. In A. D. 374 he was unanimously, and against his will, chosen bishop of Milan.
Once in the chair, however, he ruled with vigor and great sagacity, making numerous and necessa-rv reforms in church regulations and discipline.*
We shall only follow his musical career. Unfortunately, although there are some remains in the
•Marcillac Hist, de la Mus. Moderne, p. 28, and Biendel Geach. d Mus. p. 9. |
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