Hi Anthony, let me quote a passage showing that perhaps todays tradition
started from the dots ---- and yes I agree "Keep your ears open"
ciao
Dave
A LETTER TO
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND ON THE
ANCIENT NORTHUMBRIAN MUSIC,
ITS COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION.
BY THOMAS DOUBLEDAY.
*' Nor rough nor barren are the windings ways
Of hoar Antiquity, but strewn with flow'rs."
Thomas Warton.
LONDON :
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE : ANDREW REID, 40, PILGRIM-STREET.
1862.
Such are the relative positions of the old, natural, and the
modem, mathematical music. It seems clear that this posi-
tion can never be altered. To expect a simple expressive
melody to be appreciated, or even listened to, amidst the
harmonious din of contending orchestras and oratorios, that
count performers by himdreds, would be to expect a miracle.
The Ancient Music, then, must remain in those "harbours of
refuge" amongst the mountains of Northumberland, Scotland,
Ireland, Beam, Corsica, Sicily, the Tyrol, Calabria, and
Spain, to which it has been driven ; until amidst the muta-
tions of society it may, probably, at length, finally disappear
and be lost to the world, unless noted down, collected, and
put on record.
Such a fate I have long anticipated for the Ancient Music
of Northumberland, which, being less in volume, much sim-
pler, and only an offshoot of the music of Caledonia, may be
expected soonest to perish. When, therefore, I learned, as
I did some months since, that this subject had attracted the
attention of the learned Society of Antiquaries of the town
of Newcastle and its vicinity, my gratification was as great
and sincere as it was unexpected. I had, in years gone past,
sometimes dreamed of venturing upon the undertaking of
collecting it single-handed. It was but a dream. A brief con-
sideration was amply enough to convince me that to atchieve
success in such a quest an expenditure of time and money
must be involved far beyond that which any individual in a
private station could, for such an object, be expected to incur.
When, therefore, I became acquainted with the fact that
the Society ol Antiquaries had taken the first step, by the
appointment of a sub-committee, for the purpose of taking
such measures for the collection and preservation of those
interesting musical rehcs as might seem to be most efficient,
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