We certainly know that harpers accompanied warriors/chieftains into
battle, but we don't have a very clear idea of the protocol of battle.
The more I read about this, the more I get the impression of a ritual
stand-off where a fairly small group of opponents might decide the day -
maybe even a fixed combat between champions
Ah! Now this does make sense. I wonder if you are on to something here. Of course, I see your point regarding the march in _dance_. What I'm talking about is indeed something else, and obviously it's what I focus on, even in my MSR sets. :-)
I remember one of my first lessons in the march, which came early on in my harping career. I was keen on finding out more about ornamentation, and not having a harp teacher (there were none!) I searched out a Great Highland Bagpiper. Made sense to me. Anyway, I fell in with a fine player who had the sensitivity to help me, a very positive influence (and he's on my CD, too). ANYWAY, one of the first things I learned was that the highland "march" was not the "HUP two three four" kind of march. (David, I loved your description of a "stride down metalled roads".) Rather, Mike told me it was a "swinging fast walk". Maybe he was thinking of the kilts, but a "louping jog" could fit the description as well.
The theories I've heard (and, well, developed) on the harped brosnachadh are that it would have been performed in the camp either the night before the battle or the morning of the battle. Maybe just for the "generals". The concept of a ritual stand-off that you refer to is intriguing. Can you share more? (And if everyone else is groaning right now, let us know...we can take our conversation off to a quiet corner.)
<<It's a great pity we do not hear wire strung harp very often in
Scotland, >>
It's not just Scotland. I played a concert last night in Pennsylvania, in a very newly renovated concert hall. I asked the presenter if this was their first concert after the renovation. She said, "well, no, but it IS our first wire-harp concert..." I smiled politely. Then she laughed and said, "...ever."
There just aren't many of us, but it's growng. For instance, you can find teachers now! And the next HarpCon in the US has *four* different wire instructors coming, from what I understand! Most exciting!!
--Cynthia Cathcart
http://www.cynthiacathcart.net/
