Re: [scots-l] Tempos

[Cynthia Cathcart]

<<Dancing maybe, but not marches>> writes my friend David (hi David!)

Actually, that's not true. The brosnachadh (the incitement to battle) was a march, and was originally played with the wire strung harp, perhaps solo or perhaps as accompaniment for a chanted poem. And that usage is really old, before the bagpipes took it on. Certainly by 1411 at the Battle of Harlowe (harper Lachlann Mor Macmhuirich). I suggest it certainly was not "airy-fairy"! And nearly SIX Hundred years ago! Why stop at just 200 or 300 years?

I tell people about the brosnachadh, and they say, "How can the lovely harp be a war instrument?" and then they listen and they _get it_. That music can be very exciting!

Sue Richards writes <<This whole discussion is very distressing, >>

I'm sorry you are feeling distressed, Sue. I don't think that was anyone's intent. No one is suggesting that you must stop playing the music you enjoy. The discussion about repertoire and competitions has been very interesting. Isn't it useful to see how others feel about competitions, tempos, rules and all of that? Especially since you are on a committee for this?

I don't think I was clear enough on my "Time Line of the Harp". It's already done. I'm just adding to it now, and digging for a couple of things that elude me yet. A good date for the MSR is one. And thanks for your input on this, Jack. I knew I could count on you!

The March I think we can agree is quite ancient indeed. Regarding the Reel, a quote from John Purser, who quotes from "Newes from Scotland" (Wright, London, 1591), goes thus: "At the famous North Berwick witch trial of 1590, Agnes Thompson was accused with others that they "took hands on the land, and danced this reill or short dance..." He says that it is the first mention of the reel as a dance anywhere in the world.

For the Strathspey, its emergence is first noted in the memoirs of Arthur O'Neill (a harper!!) "To please the King the Morris dance I will; Stravetspy, and after, last of all, the Drunken Dance I'll dance within that hall." That date is 1653, though Purser calls it into question and suggests that perhaps the date is more likely 1617 and that the harper in question was O'Cahan.

Still a harper. This meshes nicely with your observation, Jack!

If anyone on the list has dates or info that contradicts what I've given here, please do share. I want to have the best information possible on the Time Line. I had my first opportunity to share it with a group of harpers yesterday, both wire and lever harpers, and it was very well received (to my delight and relief!) When/if Sue's friend publishes her thesis I'll be sure to look for it at the library and cross check some of these dates. Thanks for the lead.

BTW, a most interesting tid-bit (one of those goose-bump moments): 1792, the year that Sebastian Erard took out the first British patent ever granted for a harp for his single-action pedal harp, was the same year as the Belfast Harp Festival at which Edward Bunting was scratching down the music of the last wire harpers of Ireland!

--Cynthia Cathcart
http://www.cynthiacathcart.net/

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