In the obscure period preceding the origin of the great civilizer, Peter I., the Muscovites knew scarcely more than one melody, to which different words were adapted according to the circumstances. "It served alike," says an old author, "the unhappy man for his lamentations; the drunkard for his bacchanalian song; the laborer for his diversion when overcome with weariness; the driver for encouragement to his horses; and the young for regulating their steps in the dance." Among the instruments that were used to accompany this universal melody we notice the _goudok_, a species of violin having three strings, of which the _chanterelle_ was played _pizzicata_, while a very short bow was drawn over the other two strings. (These bass strings must have acted like a double pedal accompaniment--_i.e._ two immovable notes, for the performer had not, so far as we know, a third hand to vary the intonation.) Then there was the _balalai-ka_, a kind of guitar with two strings; the _doutka_ an exact copy of the double pipes of antiquity; the _gousli_, or horizontal harp, approaching the zither or psalterion; the _valinca_, which was a species of bagpipe, etc. All of this was very primitive and a little savage. However, music was noticeably more advanced in the southern province of Ukraine. "Many of the inhabitants of this portion of the country went to Moscow or St. Petersburg, and entered the service of the nobles in the capacity of musicians. They had, and have still, very fine voices. They formed almost the entire choir of the imperial chapel.... The Ukrainians all love music and the dance, and seem to have no occupation more important than that of amusing themselves. They excel particularly on the _bandora_, with which they accompany their songs of a tender or lively character."