THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. NOVEMBER, 1834. i SACRED SONG. — MUSICAL REVOLUTION IN SWITZERLAND. After some hesitation we give the following article a place in our pages. Its author, we doubt not, is the well known erudite and pious Rev. Dr. John Pye Smith, the initials of whose name appear at the end of the paper. It contains information which in itself will be interest- ing to many; but our principal inducement to republish it in the Chris- tian Advocate is, a hope that it may lead to an improvement in sacred music in our own country; for improvement is surely and exceedingly needed. We do wish that the great mass of our religious assemblies would not leave singing to a choir — We wish they would all sing, and sing well. The susceptibility of strong mental impressions from Music is one of the natural faculties with which our Creator has endowed us. Is there not reason to fear that its importance is not sufficiently appre- ciated, and its powers not sufficiently called forth? The early history of all nations presents instances of its wondrous efficacy. Witness the first periods of Greece, Britain, and Scandinavia, and the national songs of Tyrtaeus, whom Plato apostrophizes as the divine poet, wise and good. Aristotle, though often disposed to contest his master's doctrines, concurs with him here, in attributing to music a great moral power. By divine institution, sacred song, of which we have the in- spired remains in the Book of Psalms and other parts of the Old Tes- tament, formed almost the only social worship of the Hebrew temple. At the Reformation, this grand instrument of emotion was not en- tirely overlooked. Unhappily, in England and Scotland, either it was not put into action, or the attempt was ill-conducted and abortive. In France, for a time it produced great effects; of which some interesting notices are given in the delightful compilations of a pious and talented lady, lately given to our country, " The Life of Olympia Fulvia Mo- rata." But the counteraction and destruction of the reformation in France, brought down what remained to them of national song to the wretched state of chansons and chansonnettes, the best of which were mere conceits, often tame and silly, and the generality of an immoral Ch. Mc.—\ol. XII. 3 R 490 Sacred Song. — Musical Revolution in Switzerland. Nov. character; and, by a just judgment, the music became worthy of the song, it was screaming by notes. In Germany, the matter took a better course. The German tribes had been always addicted to music of great pathos and compass; and their language, unpolished as it was, by its copiousness, flexibility, and strength, gave them a great advantage over the French. Luther had ear, science, and execution. While by his version of the Bible, every line of which bears witness to his euphonic taste and judgment, he stamped the language with classical dignity, his hymns and his music, powerfully seconded by other and superior poets, poured the stream of sacred melody through the land. No country can pretend to vie with Germany in the richness of its religious music. Its stock of Hymns, beginning with the age of the Hussites, but of which few are even now obsolete, is moderately stated at seventy thousand: a late writer in the Archives du Christianisme (June 28, p. 95,) estimates them at more than eighty thousand. Great Britain can scarcely pretend to the twentieth part of this number! This astonishing amount of the German Hymnology is characterized by a decided strain (very few in- deed are the exceptions) of evangelical sentiment and experimental piety, their versification is most mellifluous, and their tone full of ten- derness and power. It is a popular treasure of doctrine and practice; and it has been a grand means of keeping the flame of religion glow- ing on the cottage-hearths of the peasantry, in many happy instances, when the spurious gospel had taken possession of the churches. The band of devoted men in France and Switzerland, who are "la- bouring so much in the Lord," have not forgotten this department. In both those countries, vigorous efforts have been lately made for the restoring, or to speak more properly, the creating, of a French national psalmody. Among these, a distinguished praise is due to Dr. Malan. Many new psalms and hymns have been produced, possessing excel- lence of both poetry and piety; and suitable melodies have been com- posed. Besides Dr. Malan's volume, the Paris Choix de Cantiques has arrived at a third edition; and a large volume, beautifully printed, with the musical notes, has been this year published in that city, with the title Chants Chretiens. Some articles, peculiarly valuable as to both sci- ence and Christian spirit, have appeared on this subject in the .Archives and the Semeur. That these are among the means by which " the Lord whom we seek" is " preparing his way, and coming to his temple," is a persua- sion which seems to be powerfully confirmed by a most remarkable phenomenon, which is now operating on a grand scale in the Canton of Vaud, and of which we have a large narrative in the Semeur of July 16. We shall endeavour to extract the essence, by selecting and abridging. In the south-west of Switzerland a Musical Revolution is rapidly taking effect. Its watch-word is Harmony; its object is to give a new direction to popular singing; and its means may be found wherever there are persons willing to take a little pains, and who can find a leader to give them a little instruction, and to guide their voices in singing the charms of their country and the praises of their God. Long was it thought that French Switzerland could not march with the German cantons in vocal music. Long has the lake of Geneva heard little along its shores but coarse, vulgar, and obscene ballads. Lately, the stu- dents of Geneva and Lausanne have laboured to counteract this evil, by composing patriotic songs and endeavouring to give them popular 1834. Sacred Song. — Musical Revolution in Switzerland. 491 circulation. The effort has been happily successful, but within a small circle. The Religions Awakening which is making daily progress in Switzerland, has had great effect in improving the national singing. New methods have been adopted in many schools, to train the chil- dren to the execution of hymns, with a fine and simple harmony; and the effects have been so far pleasing. But something was wanted to reach the mass of the people; and that, the kindness of Providence has supplied. About two years ago, M. Kaupert, a Saxon gentleman, who has long resided at Morges, proposed to teach gratuitously the whole popula- tion of young and willing persons in any village or small town, to sing together. The rumour attracted considerable attention, and drew forth a variety of opinions. But soon his promises were realized, and all scepticism was silenced. At Morges and in the neighbouring vil- lages, concerts of the voice alone were heard, producing such a noble and simple harmony as no person in the whole country had before the least idea of. He was induced to extend his benevolent labours. He electrified, as it were, the whole side of the lake down to Geneva. Every where, the Magician of Song was followed by crowds. The moral effect of this is beyond calculation: already the result, in this re- spect, excites astonishment. M. Kaupert commonly began in schools and other large rooms. Per- sons of all ages and of every rank in society flocked to these meetings. It was soon necessary to ask for the use of the churches: and some- times, large assemblies have been held in the open air. In the former places, hymns are sung; and in the latter songs, patriotic or descrip- tive, but all free from an immoral taint. His plan is, to trace in a simple and clear manner upon a large black board, the notes of each lesson; and he furnishes each one of his pu- pils with a card or paper, containing what he judges fit for each step of instruction. He usually succeeds in ten lectures, to qualify these vast masses to execute the simple and touching hymn or song, in parts and full concert, enrapturing all who witness the scene. In the introductory lectures, he strongly affects the imagination and the sensibility of his hearers, by his descriptions of the powers and the intention of music, to breathe noble and generous sentiments, to harmonize the minds and hearts of men, to honour our country, to excite admiration of the works of God, and, as the highest point of all, to show forth his praises. These large assemblages follow his in- structions, and catch his manner of execution with an enthusiasm per- fectly astonishing. His kind manner and untiring patience have a great share in producing the effects which so surprise us. The great and learned city of Geneva invited the musical philanthro- pist to visit and charm its population. Some of the higher classes be- came alarmed; but, in the result, they too were carried down the stream. Pastors, professors, magistrates, ladies of the first rank, per- sons the most distinguished for learning and science, were seen side by side with children and poor people, listening and learning from M. Kaupert. When the grand meeting took place, no church could re- ceive the multitude, and they repaired to the Plein Palais, in number four thousand singers. Here, however, the success did not answer ex- pectation: the wind acted unfavourably upon the vibrations of the air, and perhaps the distance of the extremes made it impossible to keep time. But M. K. was loaded with expressions of admiration and thanks, and a medal was struck in honour of him: a mark of respect 492 Sacred Song. — Musical Revolution in Switzerland. Nov. which, in Switzerland, is never conferred but upon what is judged to be in the highest order of merit. At Lausanne, his instructions were sought with universal avidity. Many, who had been accustomed to spend their evenings in dissipation, began to employ them entirely in learning the new style of music. Children and their parents, all the schools, the professors and students of the college, servants and mistresses, workmen and masters, per- sons who had been the most opposed to each other, in religion and po- litics, the inhabitants of different villages distinguished by banners, — all were attracted, all seemed to be of one heart and soul. When the previous training was complete, a day was fixed for the grand concert. More than two thousand singers were arranged in the great church, the noblest Gothic building in Switzerland: the flags of villages and societies were tastefully arranged on an ivy-clad tower: the vast multitude who came to hear were disposed within and without: and then was sung a hymn and its air of Luther's composing, — simple, grave, noble.— But, O the effect! — No words can utter it! — The im- pression will never be forgotten. — Other hymns were sung; and a most touching patriotic song, the words of which we owe to M. Olivier, named La Patrie, "Our country, Helvetia! Helvetia!" The happy fruits of this Mimical Revolution show themselves almost every where. The people in the different places keep up their singing- meetings. In the summer evenings they are seen in the church-yard, or on the village-green. In the streets and on the roads, the ear of the passenger is met by the sweet sounds. In these groups we perceive some failures of execution, compared with the. fine style when led by M. Kaupert: but attention and practice will remedy them. Christians of Great Britain, what say ye to this narrative? Cannot you go and do likewise? Cannot you thus draw thousands from the beer-shop, and the gin-shop, and the corrupting intercourse of idle- ness? — Ye men of Manchester and Birmingham, of Sheffield and Leeds, and of every other place; — open your chapels for this grand ex- periment. Surely you have good and able men among you, who pos- sess the talent and benevolence to effectuate this object. Why should you not begin with some stanzas of our fine national melody, God save the King? And are there not other old English songs, not religious, but innocent in sentiment and striking in words and music? And may not these, under your judicious guidance, prepare the way for singing the songs of Zion, thus diffusing the gospel, affecting the heart, at- tracting the wanderer, and improving our congregational psalmody? — I trust that this appeal will not be in vain. This instrument of good has never, in our country, been sufficiently tried. A very able writer in the Penny Magazine has lately been endeavouring to arouse our most unmusical nation, and to create some sort of British National Music. But, with all his knowledge and discernment, he rests his hopes on instrumental music, thinking that the vocal cannot be culti- vated and sustained without that aid. He has no idea of M. Kaupert's grand and simple method. Dr. Burder, who possesses so much sci- ence and skill in the heavenly art, is to preach the Broad-street Lec- ture on Oct. 14th, upon Sacred Song. May he then touch a chord for London, which shall vibrate through the land! J. P. S. Evang. Mag.