The Glories of Ireland by Unknown
page 99 of 447 (22%)
page 99 of 447 (22%)
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expounds _organum_ or discant, nearly a hundred years before the
appearance of the _Scholia Enchiriadis_ and the _Musica Enchiriadis_. He also wrote a commentary on Martianus Capella, now in a Paris MS. of the ninth century. The eulogy of Giraldus Cambrensis, or Gerald Barry, who came to Ireland in 1183, on Irish harpers and minstrels is too well known to be repeated, but Brompton and John of Salisbury are equally enthusiastic. Ground bass, or pedal point, and singing in parts, as well as bands of harpers and pipers, were in vogue in Ireland before the coming of the English. Dante, quoted by Galilei, testifies to the fact that Italy received the harp from Ireland; and, it may be added, the Irish harp suggested the pianoforte. In the Anglo-Norman ballad, "The Entrenchment of New Ross"--in 1265--allusion is made to pipes and flutes, and carols and dancing. Another poem, dating from about 1320, refers to Irish dances in a flattering manner. John Garland (1190-1264) wrote a treatise on _Organum_, and outlined a scheme of dividing the interval, which developed into ornamentation, passing notes, and grace notes. The Dublin _Troper_ of the thirteenth century has a number of farced Kyries and Glorias, also a collection of Sequences. A Dublin _Processionale_ of the fourteenth century contains the most elaborate form of the _Officium Sepulchri_, with musical notation on a four-line stave--the foundation of the Miracle Play of the Resurrection. Another Dublin _Troper_ dates from 1360 and was used in St. Patrick's Cathedral. It contains the hymn, "Angelus ad Virginem", alluded to by Chaucer. The Christ Church Psaltery, about 1370, has musical notation and is exquisitely illuminated. Lionel Power, an Anglo-Irishman, wrote the first English treatise on music in 1395. Exactly a century later, in |
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