The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-17
At the Catholic Winter School
in Crescent City.
GIVES EVIDENCE OF VOCAL ABILITY
Ireland Famous for Music in the
Twelfth Century.

The following report OF lecture on
melodies and Songs of Ireland" by
Rev. Thomas P. Mclaughlin before
the Catholic Winter School of Am
erica now in session at New Orleans
is taken from the Catholic Standard
and Times OF Philadelphia:
Father Mclaughlin made a decided
ly favorable impression on the audi
ence. He is not only most pleasing
lecturer, but singer of transcendent
merit. He sang in the course of his
dissertation a number of Irish melo-
dies in rich, tuneful and finely modu-
lated voice, carrying his audience by
storm, especially in the singing of
"Aileen Aroon" and of Moore's
Minstrel Boy"
Father McLoughlin's recitation of
The Bells of Sllandon' was as per-
feet gem of elocution and fine lyric
effect as could be heard and felt
through the medium OF any lecturer or
orator.
II do not know" said Father Nc
Lougflin, "how many Irish people are
in this audience. or how many here are
OF Irish descent. | will look into the
subject OF Irish music from the i'm
partial standpoint OF lover of music
ireland has been called the island OF
saints, and ii everything that has been
said about Ireland is true, then she
deserves that title. She lays claim to
be the island OF music and song | am
here to vindicatc this position held by
my mother country. (Applause.) And
prove her right to the title, not only
by historical facts, but by the rendition
OF Irish music and melodies. The
proper time to inquire into the genius,
the characteristics of nation is when
it is at its zenith. Therefore. will not
speak, at least in particular way, OF
the Ireland of to-day, but Of the Ire
o ancient times; when oti1er
European nations were in sem-barbar-
ity.
ireland led the whole world in mu-
sical matters in ancient times. In all
Europe up to the fourteenth century,
Ireland, alone was looked up to as the
land of music and poetry. ireland S
emblem wa and is yet the golden
harp, thus proclaining to the whole
world that she is the land Of music
and the home OF song.
Before the fourteenth century, what
we call harmony to-day, was practical
ly unknown. The troubadours OF
Provence, called Trovatoire in Italy,
were, as rule, ranked with buffoons
and jugglers. The history of the ro-
mantle ballad prior to the fourteenth
century must be sought for in ireland.
The Celts were the fathers OF romantic
ballads. Why? The supposition is
that the Irish were descended from the
ancient Phoenicians, who were famous
for their proficiency on the harp. The
Irish peoples knowledge OF music
dates further back than the time that
C1,~, =,
land. When St. Patrick came to Ire
land the terms 'bards' and 'Druids'
were synonymous. The Druid priests
were the acknowledged wise men, and
were held in the highest esteem. These
priests were at the same time the bards
and custodians OF the musical art. In
the council chamber they sat next to
the King. The chief OF the order had
the privilege, once year, OF making
a tour of the island, at the expense OF
the King.
"Tara, so called because it meant the
home Of music, was where the bards
were wont to assemble in anccn,
times. Tie bards were divided into
three classcs-historians, antiquarians
and legislators. The poetry and music
of ancient times were OF the highest
order. The manuscripts in the Gaelic
language are the most abundant Of an
cient manuscripts. Some of the Gaelic
airs date back to time before the Chris
tian era One OF these melodies is Gel
ebrated for its beauty and is called the
Youth OF the Golden Locks and is
considered most beautiful"
(The lecturer sang his melody and