New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-17
VOICES FROM THE
SCOTTISH ISLES
Fascinating Hebridean
FoIksOngs Sung in
Aeolian Hall.
Rv IL L. KREURIEL.

II will not be long before the pubic,
or at least that portion OF it which
takes an intelligent interest in music,
will be familiar with the folksongs Of
nearly all the cultured peoples Of the
world. Scottish songs We had sung for
US By excellent exponents like the late
Nr. Kennedy more than a generation
ago. Choirs from Fisk University and
the educational institutions of Hamp-
ton and Tuskegee have sung the "spir-
ituals" Of the negro slaves of our
Southland for forty years. Students from
South America have sung and played
the music Of their countries for US,
Russian choirs have disclosed the
treasures OF the Slavs and our Scandi-
navisn societies and singers have
opened for us the thessurus OF Morse
melody.
The example Of Nine. Sembrich in
giving groups Of international songs
has been initiated by scores Of less
gifted but serious-m inded artists, and
American composers as well as singers
have sought 20 put charm into the gen
orally uncouth musical utterances Of
the American Indians. Mr Cecil Sharp
and Mr. Granger have fam.liarized US
with the beauties of English folksongs
and M Harry Burleich has shown Us
that Afro-American folksongs can ac-
cept artistic dress gracefully. Until
very recently the latest specimen Of the
peoples song TO receive performance
IN the concert rooms was the Russian
Hebrew, or Yiddish. Now the daughter
Of Mr.. Kennedy who was the Scottish
pioneer forty or fifty years ago. Is
with Us as an exponent Of Hebridean
song-the ballads. lullabies and croons
% the Gaelic people who inhabit the
storm-bea:en islands or the west coast
Of Scotland where Mendeissohn got the
inspiration for his exquisite concert
overture. "Fingaps Cave"
In Aeolian Hall last night Mrs. Ken
nedy-Fraser and her daughter Patuts
gave recital o. some Of the songs
collected By the former in some OF the
Hebridean Islands which have seldom
been visited By travellers. The enter
tainment was one Of singular charm,
quite unlike anything that had been
heard in public before The songs,
some Of which were sung in Gaelic.
some in English and some accompanied
on the Gaelic harp by the young
woman, were genuine folksongs
with no more sophistication than
came from simple fermentation
which left their primitive character
intact. and they were sung with q SIM
ule. soulful. d,rectness and sincerity
which made them stra- ge.y moving.
They were all collected by Mrs. Ken
nedv-Fraser and taken from the two
volumes. Songs OF the Hebrides" and
"Sea Tangles.' which have been pub
Hshed by Boosey & Co.; and though
these collections have been open 20 the
public but "a short time they have al
ready made an impression on artistic
music. Mr Granville Bantock has
used Two Of the songs which were sung
last night as themes for his "Hebridean
SYMPTOM" which the Scottish Orcaes-
ira performed .n Glasgow on February
!. and the singing proved conv.ncingiy
that they are most admirable S. m
phonic material.
Extremely simple were most Of the
songs largely composed Of shors
melod.c phrases, within narrow com
pass. reiterated with the persistency
characteristic Of Russian folksong and
the war dances and gambling songs Of
our red men, but surcharged with
pathos. Those OF q lighter character.
ike the labor Tits. The Bottaehan."
the spinning. churning and reaping
songs had fascinating rhythms which
went straight home 20 the hearts OF
the listeners. who gave the singing and
Mrs. Kennedy-Fraser's explanatory
comments rapt attention. In telling
the contents Of some OF the songs tho
speaker used the poetical words or
Kenneth Macleod a Hebr.dean. and her
literary collaboration. which were al
most az delightful as the songs them
selves. Il IS much 10 be hoped that
the songs will soon have a larger
audience than tina. gathered In Aeolian
Hall last night. They could not have a
mora arpracia.iva ors