The Story of the Bagpipe

Mil 31 HiBnOSOffilj 1 ; J m I i\ wt +lm\ ...-•.... The Music Story Series Edited by FREDERICK J. CROWEST. The . Story of the Bagpipe Zhe /flbueic Stoifi Series. A/6 net per Volume. Already published in this Series. THE STORY OF ORATORIO. By Annie Patterson, B.A., Mus. 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 Stoeving. 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 MUSIC (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. Mark-ham Lee, M.A., Mus. Doc. With Illustrations. THE STORY OF THE CAROL. By Edmondstoune Duncan. With Illustrations. This Series, in superior leather bindings, may be had on application to the Publishers. [all rights reserved.] ' firm a htn'jitliit/ l-i/ t A"<i<ltr '/trul The Story of the Bagpipe BY Wm, H. Grattan Flood Mus. Doc, National University of Ireland; Author ok " History op Irish Music," " Story of the Harp," etc. London The Walter Scott Publishing Co.. Ltd. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons £14 LORD CASTLETOWN OF UPPER OSSORY, K.P., (THE MACGILLA I'ADKAIG), THE DESCENDANT OK THE KINGS OK OSSORY, A VOTARY AND I'ATRON OF IRISH PIPE MUSIC, AS A SMALL TRIBUTE OK 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 drum 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 mat 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. Bruce Armstrong, Mr. F. J. Bigger, and Mr. J. J. Buckley. WM. H. G RATTAN FLOOD. Enniscorthy, October, 191 1. — Contents. CHAPTER I. ORIGIN OF THE BAGPIPE. VAGE 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 II. BAGPIPES OF ANTIQUITY. Ancient Egypt —The Arghool— Artificial reeds—Persian bagpipes —Sculptures in Assyria and Nineveh —Terra-cotta representations 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 111. GREEK AND ROMAN BAGPIPES. Ancient" Greece — Dion Chrysostomos — Martial describes the askatllos —Virgil's reference to it — Nero's vow to be a bagpiper — Contoririate 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. I'AGE Pre-Christian Ireland—The Brehon Laws —A Saga of the seventh century—The tiiuic or cetharcoire— Gerbert's illustration The bagpipe in church— Keeners vviih 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 Ihe piob inor at Crecy Statute of Kilkenny— Pipers admitted to the Dublin franchise 19 CHAPTER V. ANCIENT WELSH PIPES. Irish colonists in Wales —Testimony of Kuno Meyer— Irish 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 LAGPIPLS. Celts 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 Chevretter— 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—John Gate ... — — Contents CHAPTER VII. THE BAGPIPE IN SCOTLAND. Scotland gets the bagpipes from Ireland — Fergus MacErc Giraldus Cambrensis— Battle of Bannockburn — David II. employs bagpipers— Oldest dated bagpipe — Battle of Ilarlaw — 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 .... CHAPTER VIII. ANCIENT SCOTCH PIPE-MELODIES. '"' " Extravagant claims — " Scots wha hae — " The Battle of Ilarlaw — "The Battle of Flodden Field"— "The Flowers of the Forest" — "The Souters of Selkirk" — "The Bonny Eirl of Moray " — " John Anderson my Jo " — " The Cockelbie bow " "Macintosh's Lament"— "The McKae's March"— "Adew Dundee"— " Ginkertowne " —Scotch tunes printed at Paris in 1554 Braille W Escosse CHAPTER IX. THE SCOTCH BAGPIPE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. Pipers at the Scottish Court— George Buchanan—John Flastie 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 Baltinnes — Highland pipes— Lindsay of Pittscottie — Highland warfare— Burgh pipers—Clan pipers 62 — — Story of the Bagpipe chapter x. CONTINENTAL BAGPIPES. I'AGE Town pipers of Vienna— Legend of the Pied Piper of Ilamelin Guild of Minstrels— l'ipers in Paris — Pipers in Spain — Boccaccio's reference to the bagpipes— Calabrian pipers Virdung describes the bagpipe —Schalmey and Sackpfiefe Denis Koce — Albrecht Diirer — Luscinius's Musurgia — Martin Agricola — Statue of piper at Nuremberg— Bagpipe 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 VIII. a patron of the pipes Richard Woodward— May games— Morris dances— Queen Elizabeth's Band of Music—Drayton's Polyolbion—Lincoln- shire pipers— Shakespeare's bagpipe allusions —Worcester and Lancashire pipers —Nottingham pipers —The Coventry Mysteries - - - Si CHAPTER XII. IRISH PIPES IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. Diner'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 Image of Ireland—Shakespeare's "woollen" pipes — battle of the Yellow Ford— Dermot MacGrath— Battle of the Curlews Rinnce fada—The sword dance—Fynes Morison 89 — Contents CHAPTER XIII. ENGLISH BAGPIPES UNDER THE STUARTS. 1'ACiE Ben Jonson—King James's proclamation— Morris Dances— Britannia's Pastorals- London minstrels— An English bagpiper of 1637—The King's Band of Music— Howitt the piper— Lancashire bagpipers—Yorkshire pipers— Playford*s Dancing Master—The Restoration epoch— Butler's Hudibras — Thomas Oynion — Northumberland pipers The Royal Voyage— Gxa.A\.\a\ disappearance of English pipers— Hogarth's " Southwark Fair " 99 CHAPTER XIV. INFLUENCE OF THE BAGPIPE ON SEVENTEENTH- CENTURY MUSIC. Drone bass— Pedal point— Faux Bourdon and Gymel— Progres- sions of thirds and sixths— Irish influence in Northumbria— Guido's Miao'.ogus—FitzwilHatn Virginal Book— Mr.

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