Inglis Collection of printed music > Printed text > Story of the bagpipe

Battle of Allen
professional keeners (crossans) who assisted at the
interment of Donnchadh, King- of Ossory, 1 father
of Sadhbh (after written Isolde, or Izod), Queen of
Ireland in the year 975. In this ancient poem we
read that the nine keeners- sung - a lamentation to
the accompaniment of "cymbals and pipes played
harmoniously."
In connection with the death of Donnbo at the battle
of Allen in 722, as found in an Irish manuscript of the
eleventh century, we read that Donnbo was
"the best minstrel in Ireland at pipes and
trumpets and harps," etc. On the night of
the battle it is related that " the head of Donnbo raised
the Dord Fiansa (a strange strain), the sweetest strain
of music ever heard, so that all the assembly wept
through plaintive beauty of the song."
In an Irish poem on Tara by Cuan O'Lochain,
written about the year 1015, there is reference to
"the pipers and jugglers" who were privi-
leged to enter the King's house and to drink uan
,. , „,. „ " .-,, , . O'Lochain
his beer, lhis Cuan O Lochain was not
only Chief Poet, but was practically Head King of
Ireland from 1022 till his death in 1024.
The Irish may claim the invention of the musical
form known as "pedal point," or "drone bass" — that
1 This Donnchadh is the direct ancestor of Lord Castletown of
Upper Ossory.
2 In the old Irish "Pot of Avarice 4 ' we read that while the poem
was being sung the nine leading musicians of the company played
music round the pot.
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