The evening times., 1900-03-03
CELTIC VERSE and MUSIC
DR.. Henebray's Lecture at the
Catholic University.
Poetry and Song Of Ancient Ireland
Described in DetniI-CIRsses of
Writers and Their PrivileEes-The
BardS and the FIlids-The Passing
of the Harpist-An Interesting Talk

of the HarpIst-An Interesting Talk
a lecture was delivered yesterday az sr-
noon at 4:3O o'clock by Dr. Richard HeBe-
bray in MacMahon Hail. Catholic Upiver-
sity on the subjects of the poetry and D,l
sic of ancient ireland. Under the former
head was discussed the old Irish system
OF verse building, especially in its prosodi-
cal aspect.
The question Of prosody said the lect-
urer lis a very wide one. and would re-
quire a course Of lectures for its exposi-
ton. Nothing better exempIihes the high
degree Of civilization prevailing at the
time from which this system OF verse me
tres sprang than the study OF their nature,
and the privileges accorded TO the posts
and prosodians OF that epoch. These lat
ter formed a particular class.
There were. in fact, two classes Of poets
in ancient ireland, known respectively as
the Bards and the Filids. While. modern
literature has gloriied the Bards they re-
ally occupied a merely secondary position
among their contemporaries. being in fact
the amateurs in the poetic art, while the
Filids were the professionals. There was
no fixed price for Bardic poems, and the
fine which they were entitled TO impose
upon party who had offered them insult
or injury was only half that which was
paid TO the Filids.
The Bards were divided into two great
classes. called respectively. the Scars and
Doars. and each OF these divisions COM
prlsed eight sub-classes. Each sub-class
had it's proper metre assigned 10 il and
each metre had its proportlonate price.
which was always represented in so many
heads OF cattle. Thus. for a Fihd poem in
the Dechnid metre, five COWS formed the
legal compensation, for a poem in the Set
mad metre there were two COWS and
three -year-old heifer, and SO on, the price
varying as the metre was accounted more
OF less honorable as a vehicle for the ceie-
bratiOu OF virtuous OF heroic deeds
The course of training necessary for
the title or degree Of Filid necessitated in
the earlier times a seyen-year college
training and during the later period twelve
years. Each year was devoted 10 pecu-
liar line Of study. involving grammar, pros
ody. belles-lottres. etc.
The Filid was entitled also TO the
destination Of 'OIlan' and ranked next 10
the Prince. One Of their rights was that
they could get whatever they asked for,
which privilege sometimes led TO en-
barassing results. They were however,
held in great reverence and awe. and I'll
classes Of society were fearful Of exciting
their ill-wil.
The two really distinctive metres OF the
Filid or Ollan were the "Anamaim Nor.
and the "Anamaim Becc-" The "Rochetil'
or Apex Of Wisdom" was also held in
great veneration. Two poems Of this lat
ter class are published in the 'Windish
IrisheteXte leipzig. 1SSOD
In all the history OF the world there
is no parallel TO this poetic caste Of
ancient Ireland"
Dr. Henebray then gave a list OF the
technical terms used In the poetic art Of
the old Gael He cited the fact that there
were also grammatical rules which are
stilI In existence in the old Celtic manu-
scripts, for fostering the beauty OF conver-
satiOn. and the proper use OF the lang
uage The most valuable and easily OBJ
tanned data on this subject" he said. was
TO be found in rfIe Books OF Lewister and
BalbymOte." He defined poetry in its
structural aspect as that form OF sen
tence which is submitted TO the rhythmati-
cal laws OF music in phrasing and JOnality.
The ingredient added TO Language in order
to constitute poetry was differently re-
garded by different peoples and by The
same people at different times. This
variety arose in all probability. from their
changing notions regarding music"
Then followed dissertation on the vari-
Gus vei Sc metres in Sanscrit Greek. Latin.
and Old English or Anglo-Sax all OF
which differ radically from the Irish
system.
There are found in all said the lee
turer. 1888 different metres in the ancient
Celtic tongue
DR.. Henebray then took up the subject
of the music OF ancient ireland. There
were" he saidp about twenty musical in
struments in use the most important OF
which vas the croft or harp. The harp
continued 10 be played in Ireland from
pre-historic times down to the year 1918,
when the last harper who belonged 10 the
class in which the art was handed down
from father TO son. died" The lecturer
quoted the account Of Gerold de Barry. a
Welshman who visited Ireland in compa-
nv with Prince John in 11S5, and who gives
a rapturous account OF the superiority OF
musical culture in the Emerald Isle
and the marvellous proficiency Of the Irish
harpists.
The folk songs OF Ireland" continued
Tr Henebray. are the OSt extensive in
the world. as well as the most peculiar and
characteristics The Irish musical scale,
differing radically from the Italian. is in
cap Ne OF being translated into the lat
fer. and hence the marvellous cadence Of
that vast musical store is lost to the mod
ern world"