Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-31
EusIc M EARLY SCOTLAND.
fsco,tisch Revisw.l

with the conviction that the art was
more generally and intelligently cult
waited by our remote ancestors than it
has been during the last two centuries
In these primitive times, when a great
part OF the country had not yet come
under the influences OF civilization.
when interminable wars and constant
migrations kept the nation in state OF
almost total barbarism, we find
the practice OF music in such a
state OF perfection, that we might we'll
say 1t was never anywhere more
popular or in closer connection with the
whole public and private life OF the peo-
PIE. instruction in the theory and prac-
tice of the art seems to have been one of
the chief elements of ordinary educa-
ton; and schools entirely devoted to
music were, as we shall see, instituted in
most of the towns of the country, and
were warmly supported and patronized.
| The generality OF musical culture seems
indeed, as our outline Of facts will show,
almost fabulous, and appears to us, con
sidering the musical baroness OF the
country in more recent times, Ike
dream Of st. Cecilia.
The earliest records of music in Scot
land are those connected with the per-
formances Of the bards, who united in
one person the characters of poet and
musician. Every chief or head of r.
clan had his own bard, whose Office in
| time Of peace was TO sing or rehearse
the heroic actions of his patron or his
ancestors. On the eve of battle it was
his business to harangue the army in n
war-sOng composed for the occasion and
having for its theme the rewards OF
glorious death or the hon0rs Of de-
cisiye victory. Not unfrequcntly these
songs, as well as the music to which
they were sung, were composed
extemporaneously. When Edward j. of
England Invaded Scotland in 1914 he
brought with his army famous Latin
rhymer, with the intention of employ
ing him to celebrate in song the glorious
victory which he fully expected to
achieve. At Bannockburn the poet was
taken prisoner by tho Scots. who. as a
ransom for his life, demanded from him
a poem on the events OF the day. The
poem WIS given, but IL appears not TO
have satisfied the victors, for we learn
that another bard was appointed by the
Scots to "eternize their conquest
Sometimes the efforts OF the bsrds had
the effect of preventing combat. "The
performers, says an old writer, " would
step in between the contending parties
and by their soft, fascinating strains
calm the fury of the warriors and pre-
vent bloodshed." Generally speaking,
however, their songs were an Indictment
to action.
The old Caledonians were very bounti
full to their bards. Lands were appro-
priated 10 them, and became hereditary
| in their families not few districts in
the Highlands still retain the name OF
the bards territory. In one OF the
poems ascribed by the Dean OF Lismore
to Ossian, reference is made to the gen
erous rewards which these early singers
received from the Celtic chiefs
Here have seen the feline
Whose liberal hand did music buy.
An eulogy was occasionally rewarded
by the chief with silver cup. Gwen
poetry" says the annotator of the Lis
more collection, chad need to be pur-
chased and probably were it not for
the hope Of reward of some kind, many
of the noblest poems which have adorn-
ed human history would never have seen
the light Manner says the bards
were considered sacred in their person
and property and some modern writer's
have even affirmed that they belonged to
an order of the priesthood. That they
we're regarded with a certain amount
Of yeneration is evident from the
privileges which they enjoyed of pass
ing and repassing IN safety between
hostile armies, but it requires clearer
proof than ancient history can furnish
to show that they took any greater con-
Germ in spiritual affairs than the laity Of
their country. 1t is well known that the
Irish bards were heads Of school which
included the West Highlands, and, sc-
cording to DR.. Skene, the Highland
bards were either OF Irish descent or, if
of native origin, resorted TO bardic
schools in Ireland for instruction in the
accomplishments of their art. One Of
the branches Of study il these schools is
said to have been genealogY-a know
lege of which cannot have failed to be
of service to the bard in chronicling the
achievements of bis patrons ancestors.
The instrument used by the bards to
accompany their songs is generally be-
lieved 20 have been the harp. One of
the old writers says expressly cit was
like the Tyre" an instrument which, in
these early times at least, differed from
the harp only in having fewer strings.
OF their music We have no authentic
specimens. 1t can hardly be doubted,
however, that many OF the old simple
national melodies which have come
down to us from the days Of the bards
are the compositions Of the latter I;
among the large number OF our airs un-
/ associated with the name OF any COM
poser, it is difficult TO believe that no one
is to be attributed to these primitive poet
musicians.
Closely connected with the bards were
the MINISTRIES, who went about the cOun-
try from house to house reciting heroic
ballads and other popular episodes. IN
some respects these minstrels rcsembled
the bnrds they were admitted into the
best families, and they seem also TO have
accompanied the armies to the field Of
battle. We read Of one minstrel ad-
vancing before the troops singing the
song of Roland, regardless Of all personal
danger Large sums Of money were ex-
pended for the maintenance OF the
minstrels at court, as well as in the
houses OF the opulent. In 1929 there
was "pgid by the King TO the Ministries
or bards the soume OF &20." In docu-
ment preserved in the Register House,
Edinburgh, we find the following item,
under date 1917 40 the menstrallis
that playit before Mons Mons Meg,
doun the gate kills" and
in 1907 a payment was made to " divers
menstralls . lutaris, harparis,
pipars. extending to Xix PERSONS"
A curious instance OF the employment
of minstrels in the service OF a town IS
seen in the case OF Aberdeen. In 1900
the Council enacted "that John and Ro-
bert, thar commcne menstralis, sal have
reasonable diets throw the nichtbouris