SCOTTISH MUSIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9010, 15 October 1892, Page 3

SCOTTISH MUSIC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln Judge Fenton'a interesting and highly instructive lecture on Scottish music, I notice that he has fallen, in one instance, into a (now) common error with respect to Pibroch music. In referring to the " Pibroch o' Donal Dhu," he states that " for centuries it resounded as the signal for the gathering of the clans." I must beg to differ from him on this point, it being a pibroch of the Cameron clan only, and, most likely, was played at the battle of Inverlachy in 1427, gained by Donald Balloch of the Isles over the royal army. In the collections of pibroch music by the late Angus McKay (then piper to Her Majesty), also Professor McArthur's and McDonald's collections, it will be found that every clan of any note in the Highlands had its own gathering; and there is no mention, that I am aware of, of any pibroch known as the " Gathering of the Clans." The pipe tnne known as " Pibroch o' Donal Dhu, has been altered from the original pibroch style of (in the first part) a slow air or theme (urlar) on which several variations (suibhal) are built; the fundamental notes of the latter being in accordance with that of the former, but increasing in time, and difficulty of execution to the end (crunluaith). It has been altered of late to that of a quick step of a. certain number of steps to the minute, to suit the inarching of a regiment. _To this English words were composed, which are now often sung as a ballad. There may have been Gaelic words to the old pibroch; many of the old pibrochs have been altered in this way to suit the tastes of mixed communities, and this is the secret of the whole thing. Notable examples of this are " McCrimmon's Lament," and " Badick na Briogasean," the former being completely transformed from the original, as composed by McCrimmon, to a modern ballad, with words by Sir Walter Scott, both remarkably fine; and the latter into a regimental quickstep, and known as " Breadalbanc's March," which was a genuine pibroch, and has been known as the " March of the Campbells of Breadalbane" for centuries; but not in a modern sense, as a modern regimental tune, but as a marching to and fro of the clan piper, which the Gaelic spaisdareachd describes, at the place of rendezvous. Besides the spaisdareachd, there are three other styles of pibroch played by the piper. First, the gathering tune (Cruinneahadh), played on all occasions when the clan mustered, the notes of which were as well known to every individual clansman as the bugle call is to the soldier of a modern regiment. Second, the salute, or welcome (of a brilliant style), or in Gaelic " Failtich," played on the safe return from victory, or other successful undertaking. Third, the lament, or in Gaelic, "Cumha ; a funeral dirge, slow and plaintive, pure melody to the practised ear of a Highlander; a feeling, intenseness indescribable; mixed up between the present and long past; the cherished history of forefathers ; the cherished memory of a thousand years. Many of the pibrochs (piobrochd) are very difficult of execution, in some instances containing as many as 18 to 20 variations, built carefully on the original air or theme (urlar), each one in rotation being more difficult of execution (suibhal) exactly in accordance with the system as carried out in the high-class solo music of other instruments and music of more modern composition. For this, see Angus McKay's Collection of Piobrochd Music for the Bagpipes," also Professor McArthur's, McDonald s, and other authorities on the same subject. In conclusion, I may be allowed to say that I was delighted with Judge Fenton's lecture, and would be sorry to detract in the least from its merits. I have met several educated Englishmen who were admirers of Scottish music, and I felt proud of them. I have not as yet met Judge Fenton, but I must say that I respect him and feel # grateful to him. No one but a born musician will feel on the question a3 he seems to feel, and such I can always receive as a brother.—l am, etc., James J. Mcßa, Late piper and violinist to the Waipu Caledonian Society. Waipu, October 12, 1892.