The Story of the Bagpipe Xlbe /Hbusic Store Series
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CORNELL, ^ UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM The Carnegie Corporation MUSIC """"""•* ML 980.F6r" '•"'"'^ liiiMiiiiiiiMiiy °' "^^ l>a£IPipe 3 1924 022 329 977 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022329977 The Music Story Series Edited by FREDERICK J. CROWEST. The Story of the Bagpipe Xlbe /Hbusic store Series. Already published in this Series. THE STORY OF ORATORIO. By Annie Patterson, B.A., Mas. Doc. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF NOTATION. By C. F. Abdy Williams, M.A., Mus. Bac. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF THE ORGAN. By C. F. Abdy Williams, M.A., Mus. Bac. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF CHAMBER MUSIC. By N. KiLBURN, Mus. Bac. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF THE VIOLIN. By Paul Stoevinc. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF THE HARP. By W. H. Grattan Flood, Mus. Doc. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF ORGAN MUSIC. By C. F. Abdy Williams, M.A., Mus. Bac. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF ENGLISH MU§IC (1604-1904)— MUSICIANS' COMPANY LECTURES. THE STORY OF MINSTRELSY. By Edmondstoune Duncan. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF MUSICAL FORM. By Clarence Lucas. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF OPERA. By E. Markham Lee, M.A., Mus. Doc. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF THE CAROL. By Edmondstoune Duncan. With Illustrations. This Series, in superiot leather bindings, may be had en application to the Publishers. [all rights reserved.] < (C j.»-iU.'K' . Jliri- . ( (led The g Story of the Bagpipe BY ^^7 Wm. H. Grattan Flood Mus. Doc, National University of r^fts Irei-and ; Author ok '* History of Irish Music," "Story of the Harp," etc. London ^^' The Walter Scott Publishing Co., Ltd. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons LORD CASTLETOWN OF UPPER OSSORY, K.P., (the macgilla padraig), the descendant of the kings of ossory, a votary and patron of hush pipe music, as a small tribute of esteem. Preface. To most persons the bagpipe is associated with the strident skirl of an instrument inseparably bound up with memories of " bonnie Scotland." But when it is remembered that the genesis of the pipes goes back to the remotest antiquity, and that the instrument can rightly be claimed as the precursor of the organ, the raison d'etre of a work like the present stands in need of no apology. Yet, strange to say (as was also the case of The Story of the Harp), no handy volume has hitherto been accessible dealing with the history of the bagpipe, though, of course, various phases of the instrument have from time to time been treated by foreign and British authors. Mr. J. F. Rowbotham would have us believe that the drmn is the oldest of all instruments; but I see no reason in life why the pipe cannot claim a similar antiquity. The primitive form of reed blown by the mouth must date back to a very early period in the world's history, and Mr. St. Chad Boscawen assures us tnat there are Chaldean sculptures of about B.C. 4000 with a representation of the pipes. Egypt and Persia gave the lead to Greece and Rome, and, as a matter of fact, beating reeds have been discovered within the pipes found in Egyptian mummy cases. The Pandean vii Story of the Bagpipe pipe was merely a development of the simple reed-pipe, and it is now ascertained that the ancient Egyptians employed the bagpipe drone. Coming down to modern times, the bagpipe was the fashionable instrument at the French court under Louis XIV. It will probably surprise some Philistines of our day (who scoff at the bagpipe) to hear that the titled dames of France at the close of the seventeenth century proudly carried round their pipes in white silk cases with pale pink ribbons, and played on the musette. And surely those who have read the histories of the Highland regiments will admit that the martial ardour inspired by the piob mor contributed not a little to the many victories on record. The Highland pipes were in evidence at Assaye, Ciudad Rodrigo, Vittoria, Vimiera, Quatre - Bras, Waterloo, and other engagements. Similarly, the Irish pipes were effectively heard at Fontenoy. In the following pages I have endeavoured to tell the story of the bagpipe, and to weave the known facts of its history into a connected narrative. For much kind help in preparing this volume I must express my indebtedness to Lord Castletown, Mr. W. J. Lawrence, the Rt. Hon. Dr. M. F. Cox, the late Dr. Watson, Mr. Henry Egan Kenny, Mr. Bruge Armstrong, Mr. F. J. Bigger, and Mr. J. J. Buckley. WM. H. GRATTAN FLOOD. E.NNISCORTHY, October^ igii. viii — Contents. CHAPTER I. ORIGIN OF THE BAGPIPE. PAGE The Book of Genesis — Nebuchadnezzar's band — Chaldean sculptures—The Pandean pipe—The simple reed— Origin of the flute—The pipe with the bag—Primitive organ at Aries— The hydraulus or water organ—Various names for the bagpipe . I CHAPTER n. BAGPIPES OF ANTIQUITY. Ancient Egypt—The Arghool— Artificial reeds—Persian bagpipes —Sculptures in Assyria and Nineveh—Terra-cotta repre- sentations at Tarsus—Bruce's discovery of a reed-pipe at Thebes—Chinese traditions—The bagpipes of Northern and Southern India—The chorus — Biblical references—Clement of Alexandria— St. Jerome on the bagpipe— First Christmas legend ... - . 7 CHAPTER HI. GREEK AND ROMAN BAGPIPES. Ancient Greece—Dion Chrysostomos— Martial describes the askaalos—Virgil's reference to it —Nero's vow to be a bag- piper—^Contorniate representations — Greek sculpture in Rome—Sculptured bronze at Richborough—Aulus Gellius Aristides Quintilianus—Procopius's testimony—The Capis- trum - - ... - - 14 —— Story of the Bagpipe CHAPTER IV. ANCIENT IRISH BAGPIPES. PAGE Pre-Christian Ireland—The Brehon Laws —A Saga of the seventh century—The iiiuie or ceiharcoire—Gerbert's illustration The bagpipe in church—Keeners with pipers in the tenth century—The Dord Fiansa—Cuan O'Lochain —Pedal point —Giraldus Cambrensis—Geoffrey the piper—William the piper— Irish pipers in Gascony and Flanders—The Irish war- pipes at Calais— Battle of Falkirk —The/zoi iiior at Crecy Statute of Kilkenny— Pipers admitted to the Dublin franchise ig CHAPTER V. ANCIENT WELSH PIPES. Irish colonists in Wales —Testimony of Kuno Meyer— Iri-h origin of the Eisteddfod—Bardic system borrowed from Ireland Howell the Good —Battle of Carno—Eisteddfod at Caerwys — Prince Howell the poet —Brompton, Abbot of Jervaulx —Gerald Barry— Morris's Welsh collection 28 CHAPTER VI. EARLY ENGLISH BAGPIPES. Cells in England—Roman remains— Anglo-Saxon pipes — The Anglo-Normans—Lilt pipes and corn pipes—The pipe in church— Minstrels' Gallery at Exeter—Ralph the piper Janino Chevretler— Strutt's illustration of early English bagpipes—The King's Band of Music in 1327—Barbor and Morlan—Chaucer's Miller— Richard II. patronizes pipers William of Wykeham—Morris dances— May games—Jphn Gate - - 00-J- — — Contents CHAPTER VII. THE BAGPIPE IN SCOTLAND. PAGE Scotland gets the bagpipes from Ireland—Fergus MacErc- Giraldus Cambrensis— Battle of Bannockburn— David II. employs bagpipers— Oldest dated bagpipe— Battle of Harlaw —James I. patronizes the bagpipe—Battle of Inverlochy Angelic piper in Rosslyn Chapel—Sculpture in Melrose Abbey—The hog bagpiper—The bagpipe in religious pro- cessions—Edinburgh Corporation Band—The complaint of Scotland—James IV. and the bagpipes - - 42 CHAPTER VIII. ANCIENT SCOTCH PIPE-MELODIES. " Extravagant claims— "Scots Vfha hae "— " The Battle of Harlaw —"The Battle of Flodden Field"— "The Flowers of the Forest"— "The Souters of Selkirk"— "The Bonny Earl of Moray" — "John Anderson my Jo"— "The Cockelbie Sow" "Macintosh's Lament"— "The McRae's March"—"Adew Dundee"— " Ginkertowne "—Scotch tunes printed at Paris in 1554 Branle d'Escosse - 52 CHAPTER IX. THE SCOTCH BAGPIPE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURV. Pipers at the Scottish Court— George Buchanan—John Hastie Scotch war-pipes in 1549—The bagpipe in a religious pro- cession— St. Andrew's pipers—The pipers of Stirling James VI. and the bagpipes— Battle of Balrinnes—Highland pipes—Lindsay of Pittscottie — Highland warfare—Burgh pipers—Clan pipers • - - - 62 — —— Story of the Bagpipe CHAPTER X. CONTINENTAL BAGPIPES. PAGE Town pipers of Vienna—Legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin Guild of Minstrels— Pipers in Paris —Pipers in Spain Boccaccio's reference to the bagpipes—Calabrian pipers Virdung describes the bagpipe—Schalmey and Sackpfiefe Denis Roce — Albrecht Diicer — Luscinius's AJiistirgia — Manin Agricola—Statue of piper at Muremberg—Bajjpipe in church—Bulgarian and Servian bagpipes—The Volynka —Hungarian pipes— Olaus Magnus—Dance of Death 69 CHAPTER XI. THE ENGLISH BAGPIPE UNDER THE TUDORS. "Inglis pyparis" at the Scottish Court—Pudsey the piper Elizabeth of York— Henry VHI. a patron of the pipes Richard Woodward—May games— Morris dances— Queen Elizabeth's Bjnd of Music^Drayton's Polyolb:on——Lincoln- shire pipers— Shakespeare's bagpipe allusions "Worcester and Lancashire pipers—Nottingham pipers—The Coventry Mysteries - - . CHAPTER XII. IRISH PIPES IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. Durer's Irish piper—The siege of Boulogne—The piob mor— Stanihurst's description— Father William Good, S.J. —State pardons to pipers— Camden's account—Vincenzo Galilei Derrick's Imas^e of Ireland—Shakespeare's "woollen " pipes — battle of the Yellow Ford— Dermot MacGrath— Battle of the Curlews Kinnce fada—The sword dance—Fynes Morison xii — —— Contents CHAPTER XIII. ENGLISH BAGPIPES UNDER THE STUARTS. PAGE Ben Jonson—King James's proclamation—Morris Dances Britannia's Pastorals— London mmstrels—An English bag- piper of 1637—The King's Band of Music— Hewitt the piper—Lancashire bagpipers—Yorkshire pipers—Playford's Dancing AJaster—The Kestoration epoch— Butler's Hudibras — Thomas Oynion — Northumberland pipers The Royal Voyage—Gradual disappearance of English pipers—Hogarth's " Southwark Fair " ..