Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > British minstrel, and musical and literary miscellany

46.
THE BRITISH MINSTREL : AND
would as entirely have disappeared from the cog-
nizance of the world, even at this early period, as
have the acts and opinions of the Pictish and
Druidical inhabitants of Britain. Some one said,
" give me the making of the songs of a people,' '
and he spoke wisely; they are frequently the sources
from which emanates that particular enthusiasm
which distinguishes one nation from another; and
they, by their influence on the minds of those whose
earliest thoughts were " lisped in their numbers,"
prompt to heroic action, melt to love, and kindle the
home affections ; in fact, they leave their impress
upon the conduct of a nation, and become the chan-
nel througli which its curbed thoughts find vent. In
these exquisite melodies we can almost discover
that the people themselves were in many instances
the originators of that enthusiasm which exhibited
itself so iiercely at Flodden and Killiecrankie, and
did not even subside when the last of the Stuarts
was driven from the home of his fathers to end his
days in inglorious exile. They w'cre a distinct
language, and significant of circumstances which
the surrounding air dared not be entrusted with,
and were intelligible when all other modes of ex-
pression were forbidden. Their plaintive murmurs,
when hope was lost, preserved in the hearts of the
peasantry of these lands the memory of a devotion
unequalled in the annals of any other country
or people. Let us fondly cherish these gems of
the olden time. We have no will to enter into a
discussion with regard to the origin of these melo-
dies ; we care not whether they be old themes re-
modelled by a succession of ages, or by the influence
of the Italian masters who found favour at the Scot-
tish court ; sulfice it to us, that they are eminently
beautiful, and have become so thoroughly identified
with the deep heart thoughts of the Scottish people,
that we hold it next to sacrilege to meddle with
their fair proportions.
No. 7. — This is a specimen of the popular music
of the French people about sixty years ago. We
copy it from a collection, Etrennes de Polhymnie,
published at Paris anno 1785.
No. 8. — Roderick Morrison, usually called Dall,
or the blind, was one of the last native Highland
harpers. He served in that capacity to the Laird
of Macleod, but on the death of his master, Dunve-
gan castle and its establishment being abandoned,
he began an itinerant life. About 16.50, he accom-
panied tlie Marquis of Huntly on a visit to Robert-
son of Lude, on which occasion he composed the
Purst, or air, given above ; several of his other com-
positions are said to be in existence, but it would
be no easy task to make a collection of his airs,
seeing that they have so long been led to the capri-
cious keeping of mere tradition; and many might
be attributed to him, which with as much justice
might be attributed to the muse of any other of the
clan harpers. Burns' words, " Fare thee well thou
first and fairest," are sung to this air.
THE TURTLE DOVE COOS ROUND MY COT.
Hooi.
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