A Reading Book in Irish HistoryJoyce, P. W. (Patrick Weston)
History
A Reading Book in Irish History
Joyce, P. W. (Patrick Weston)
Ireland -- History
[Illustration: Old Chapter-house Door, now in St. Patrick's Cathedral,
Dublin.]
But though this quarrel was patched up, it was only for the time.
Kildare suspected that Ormond had brought his army with evil intent "to
outface him and his power in his own countrie"; while "Ormond mistrusted
that this treacherous practice of the Dublinians was by Kildare
devised." So that, as the old writer goes on to say, "their quarrels
were not ended, but only for the present discontinued: like unto a green
wound, rather bungerlie botcht, than soundlie cured. And these and the
like surmises, with many stories carried to and fro, and in their ears
whispered, bred and fostered a malice betwixt them and their posterity,
many years incurable, which caused much stir and unquietnesse in the
realm."
The old chapter-house door, which is pictured on last page, still
remains in St. Patrick's Cathedral, where it may be seen leaning against
one of the walls, with the very "cleft" in it through which the two
earls shook hands more than four hundred years ago.
XLIX.
ANCIENT IRISH MUSIC.
From the most remote times the Irish took great pleasure in music: and
they studied and cultivated it so successfully that they became
celebrated every where for their musical skill. Irish teachers of this
art were thought so highly of that from about the seventh to the
eleventh century, or later, they were employed in colleges and schools
in Great Britain and on the Continent, like Irish professors of other
branches of learning (see p. 47). Many of the early missionaries took
great delight in playing on the harp, so that some brought a small harp
with them on their journeys through the country, which no doubt
lightened many a weary hour at their homes in the evenings, during the
time of hard missionary work. In our oldest manuscript books, music is
continually mentioned: and musicians are spoken of with respect and
admiration.
The two chief instruments used in Ireland were the harp and the bagpipe.
The harp was the favourite with the higher classes, many of whom played
it as an accomplishment, as people now play the piano. The professional
Irish harpers were more skilful, and could play better, than those of
any other country: so that for hundreds of years it was the custom for
the musicians of Great Britain to visit Ireland in order to finish their
musical education; a custom which continued down to about a century and
a-half ago.
The bagpipe was very generally used among the lower classes of people.
The form in use was what we now call the Highland or Scotch pipes--slung
from the shoulder: the bag inflated by the mouth. But this form of pipes
took its rise in Ireland: and it was brought to Scotland in early ages
by those Irish colonists already spoken of (page 5). There is another
and a better kind of bagpipes, now common in Ireland, resting on the lap
when in use, and having the bag inflated by a bellows: but this is a
late invention.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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