THE BAGPIPES. TO THE KDITOU.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11923, 22 December 1900, Page 3

THE BAGPIPES. TO THE KDITOU.

Sin,—ln your paper of the 19th inst. it was pleasing to read Mr Donald Henderson's defence of our national musical instrument — the bagpipes,—and it was a rare treat to all Scotchmen to hear the Southland Pine Band the other day.

Some lim» in the earl} part of the year 189?. the vicar of' All Saints' Church, Scarborough, sent the following to the Scotsman newspaper:—"Allow me, as a Scotsman domiciled in England, to give expression to the unfeigned pride and pleasure with which I attended a military service last Sunday in York Minster, in which, for the first time in all history, so far as is known, the bagpipes took part (a very important part, too) in the actual service of the sanctuary. Eight kilted Highlanders of the Royal Scots —under the able leadership of Pipe-major Matheson— played a Highland ' Lament' as an integral part of the anthem. The effect was infinitely touching and beautiful. The thousands present, most of whom had no doilbt associated the bagpipes only with whisky and reels, or with the single Highlander of the streets, who too often greets you in the broadest Irish brogue, seemed to be quite astonished' and touched. There was noticeable at the first skirl of the pipes a slight tendency to a smile; but it appeared to be instantly subdued by the solemn and pathetic wail, accompanied throughout by the soft roll of the muffled drums. For myself, I must freely confess that I was fairly overcome. Of course, even the beautiful ' Lament' — so beautifully play Cd—might have had a very different effect in a tov/n hall or in the streets. But for the lofty nave and pillared aisles of the stately Minster caused the plaintive wail and impressive drone o[ the bagpipes to sound much as they would amongst their native hills. And who that has once heard the bagpipes amongst tho hills of.' Bonnie Scotland ' does not know the difference between their sound there and in ordinary surroundings!"

To me one thing is certain, after the experiment in York Minster—viz., that the bagpipes properly used should not he excluded from the service of the sanctuary if other instruments are admitted—at any rate in their native country. But their use would have to be guarded by the scrupulous self-re-straint and perfect execution of such pipers as those who played on that Sunday, as well

as by the masterly insight into the most effective use shown by Dr Naylor, the eminent organist of York Minster, who with so fine a sense of artistic fitness introduced thorn into his truly noble and affecting anthem.—-I am., etc.,

C. F. Glegg.

Dunedin, December 20.