CHORAL, in the Romish church, &c., consists of a certain order of antiphonies and psalms sung to what is called canto fermo in Italian, canto llano in Spanish, and plain chant in French. This kind of chant, in its simplest form, consists of slow sounds of equal duration, and without any embellishment, sung in unisons and octaves. In other cases the canto fermo is accompanied by Parts in harmony, but always with due regard to a certain antique and very simple style of melody and of harmony, which is founded upon the peculiar tonality and cadences of the canto fermo, and without which it loses its characteristic effects. The canto coral, or choral chant, is often particularly named canto Gregoriano, or Gregorian chant, from the great pains taken by St Gregory, in the sixth century, to improve and to teach to his pupils the oriental church chants derived from the Greeks. St Ambrose before him had introduced the oriental choral chants into the western church of Italy. We believe that there is yet much curious matter for investigation regarding the probable origin of the melodies that constituted the older canto fermo, and the nature and character of oriental scales and melodies. See Music.

With regard to the tunes introduced into the early reformed church in the time of Luther and Calvin, some curious particulars are to be found in Bayle's Dictionnaire Historique et Critique, article Marot. The Puritans in England suppressed the church choral service, and permitted psalm-singing only. Charles II. revived the choral service in England. For minute accounts of the origin, progress, and revolutions of this species of music in various Christian churches, the reader may consult Gerbert, De Cantu et Musica Sacra, Padre Martinii's Storia, Hawkins and Burney's Histories of Music. For technicalities, &c., consult, among other works, A. E. Choron's Methode de Plain-Chant, &c., Paris, 1818; and his Principes pour apprendre le Plain-Chant, Paris, 1818.