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Music from the East. |
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Certain, again, it is that the Church, which pressed into its service so many of the forms of Ancient Mythology (and some of these not of the purest), which allowed superstitions connected with Venus to glide into the worship of the Madonna, made far ampler and more open use of the Greek modes—Lydian, Doric and Phrygian—by adopting them as chants, than of these Hebrew melodies, so far as can be traced. The only example which 1 can call to mind is No. 35 in M. de Sola's Collection, 'Yar Shemang,' in which may be traced the germ of the Latin Christmas hymn, 'Adestc fideles,' known familiarly as the ' Portuguese hymn.'
The use of ancient Hebrew music made by modern composers may be described as small and unimportant, its capabilities and temptations considered. It is less known, indeed, than what may be called the civilised ritual music belonging to any other religion, and, unlike that of the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and even Greek churches, has never passed into our concert-rooms. It is true that 'an entertainment,' with a view of presenting the treasures of the Synagogue to Christian consideration, was attempted here some years since by Mr. Henry |
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