107 A DISSERTATION on the MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS of the ENGLISH. Since I have deviated a little from the fubject, I will mention likewife, the Bell Harp'; and the JewsHarp, which properly should be called Jaws-Harp, from its being played with the mouth 2. The Bell Harp is fo called, probably, from the players fwinging it about, as a bell on its biafs, for the fake of varying the tone. It is a small flat inftrument, about three feet long, and ftrung with fteel, or bráfs ftrings, which are fixed at one end, and Åtretched along the found-board, and fcrewed at the other end its compafs is about two octaves. In performing on this inftrument, it is held at the fides, and played only with the thumbs, which are both equipped with a little quill, for that purpose. Its fhape is totally different from the Harp, and rather more of the Lyre kind. But there is no reason to suppose that the Bell Harp is ancient, as I find no mention made of it under that name. > The Welsh name is, Tyrmant, and implies the mouth in motion; which removes all doubt, that Jews Harp, is a corruption of Jaws Harp, or Jaws Trump: neither is it to be found in the plate of Jewish mufical inftruments, given to us by Calmet. The earlieft mention of it, that I can find, is in Davydd ab Gwilym's Ode on the wind, written about the year 1370, thus: " ftyrmant yr yftormydd."-Mr. Pennant informs us, (in his Tour to Scotland, p. 195,) that one of gilt brafs was found in Norway, depofited in an urn. Likewise, there is a print of a Jaws Harp, in Lufcinius's Mufurgia, p. 28; publifhed in 1536. Therefore, from all these circumftances, it feems rather ancient. There is a moft admirable Burlesque Ode, written in the year 1763, which greatly tends to illuftrate this inftrument as well as feveral others of the inferior English Minftrel inftruments, that are now but little known; therefore, I am induced to quote it here, as well, also, on account of its poetical humour as for information. "AN ODE ON SAINT CECILIA'S DAY, adapted to the ancient British Music: viz. The Salt-Box, The Jaws Harp, The Marrow-Bones and Cleavers, The Hurdy Gurdy, &c.-With an introduction, giving fome account of these truly British Inftruments; by Bonnel Thornton, Efquire. As the Mufical Inftruments, to which the following Ode is peculiarly adapted, have (on account of the falfe tafte which has long prevailed) grown into difrepute, and are confequently very little known in the polite world, it will be proper to give some account of them. The Judaic, or (as it is commonly called) Jews Harp, Speaks its origin in its appellation ; and, indeed, the very twanging of its found Seems admirably qualified to accompany the guttural Hebrew language: though a learned critic of my acquaintance is rather inclined to think, that this inftrument is of a more modern invention ;_ and from its pofition, when played upon, he conjectures, that Jews Harp is only a corruption of its original name, Jaws Harp. I am forry I can give no certain account of those two incomparable inftruments, the Salt-Box, and the Hum Strum, or Hurdy-Gurdy; but it is reasonable to conclude, that the firft was usually performed on at feftivals, and the other at funerals, and on ferious occafions. And Grand Chorus. Grac'd with divine Cacilia's name ; heav'nly notes confpire to raise the heav'nly lay. The viler melody we fcorn, Which meaner inftruments afford; In ftrains more exalted the Salt-Box fhall join, Strike, ftrike, the foft Judaic Harp, Soft and sharp, By teeth coercive in firm durance kept, Air. With dead, dull, doleful, heavy hums, With mournful moans, And grievous groans; * The fober Hurdy-Gurdy thrums. This inftrument, by the learned, is fometimes called a Hum Strum, or The Marrow-Bones and Cleavers are undoubtedly our own invention, and do honour to the British nation. There were originally made use of in our wars; when our brave ancestors rushed on their enemies (like the ancient Gauls,) clashing their weapons, and ready to knock or cleave them down with those very inftruments, on which Bladder and String; and fometimes a tin canister is used instead of a bladder. they could beat fo terrible an alarm. Indeed, fince the pernicious introduction of fire arms, the Marrow-Bones and Cleavers have quitted the scenes of human flaughter, and are now confined entirely to the fhambles. If this Ode, and the performance of it, contributes to leffen our falje tafte in admiring that foreign mufic, now so much in vogue, both the writer and the compofer's intention will be answered. Dryden and Pope have been immortalized for their Odes on St. Cæcilia's Day: But these were unhappily adapted to the common inftruments, which ignorance and false talte have introduced among I make no doubt, but that all, who shall be present at the performance of this Ode at Ranelagh on the tenth of June, will at leaf commend me for my endeavours to bring these noble long-neglected in-\ us. PART II, fome relief, it has been judged proper to divide this Ode into two In order that the bearers, as well as the performers, may have parts; but the pause, in the performance, is intended to be very hort: Recitative accompanied. With magic founds, like thefe, did Orpheus' Lyre When, as he play'd. the lift'ning flood The trees, fwift-bounding, danc'd with loofen'd ftumps, The Minstrels of the Saxons appear to have been fo fimilar to the latter Bards of the Welsh, that there cannot be a doubt, but they first originated from them '; about the time when the ininerant Bards began to degenerate, and to branch into various occupations, when they loft the patronage afforded them at the death of their own Princes: indeed they were nearly annihilated altogether, by the favage policy of Ed ward the First, and by the cruel edicts of the Henries : and, what strengthens this opinion is, their laws feem fo congenial, that they must have been modelled from thofe of the Bards; only with this difference, that the course of discipline was far less strict among the Minstrels, and that they took the liberty of introducing Fable into their Songs; which was quite contrary to the laws of the Bards 3. It is rather extraordinary, that no good history of the Minstrels has yet appeared, though many of their fongs have: nor is their profeffion rightly understood, for want of fomè judicious person to undertake to collect and publish their inftitution, laws, occupations, immunities, pay, drefs, &c. ; and to give them, verbatim, to the public: when that is done, I am convinced, that the true character of a Minstrel will be found different to what it has generally been represented. But in order to convey fome idea of that profeffion, I fhall exhibit here, a copy from a curious manuscript, of the Steward's charge to the Minstrels; (which I was favoured with from Mr. Douce :) The With heavy hum The fober Hurdy-Gurdy thrum, And the merry merry Marrow. Bones ring round. Laft Grand Chorus. Such matchless strains Cæcilia knew, When angels from their heav'nly sphere, See pages 33, 34, 85, 86, and p. 102, note 4. And more particularly, fee The Battle of Flodden Field, an heroic poem, with notes by Benfon; page 2. 2 King Edward the First, and his fucceffors until Henry the Sixth's time, enacted special laws, that Welshmen should not enjoy their former liberties and cuftoms; although they and their pofterity had been fo liberal in granting privileges to the Saxons, who came into this ifland. According to various edicts and decrees, especially one of Henry the Fourth, the Welsh were kept under the yoke of fervitude, and their own proper laws abolished,and the English laws brought in ; providing, by general command, that no man fhould use the Welfh tongue in any court, or fchool. Breviary of Britain, by Humphrey Lhwyd. See alfo pages 38 and 59 of this work; and Leges Wallicae, p. 543, 547, and 548. 3 See pages 31 and 58: 4 In cafe any person should undertake fuch a work, I beg leave to fuggeft a few more hints, which may be useful in fuch an undertaking. To obtain farther particulars, it will be neceffary to investigate the religious ceremonies in monaftic records where Minstrels were employed'; of public celebrations; Games and Sports; Revels3, of dancing, masking, and fe Whilft ev'ry Spirit above would gladly ftoop to renades; feftivals at Christmas, Eafter, and Whitfuntide : hear." church feafts of faints; church-ales; Whitfon-ales 4; Wakes; Bridals; and Interludes; Allhallows; feast of St. Erkenwald; feaft of Purification of our Lady; Midfummer-Day, &c. Of Jefters or Fools'; Waits: Mummers '; Morrisdancers 10 ; Merry-Andrews; Magicians"; Jugglers, I am informed, that the famous Dr. Arne had formerly a Benefit Concert, in the Little Theatre, in the Haymarket, on the 22d of November, in the year 1749, where he introduced all these inftruments, and allotted to each of them a Solo part; and that this was the Ode to which he adapted them. "How could that be, if the ode was not written urtel 1763? See page 11 of this work.-Bede's Church History.-Britannca San&ta, &c. THE MUMMERS. or Lives of the most celebrated British, English, Scottish, and Irish Saints, in A Knight enters with his fword drawn, and fays : two volumes quarto. 2 See the Ancient British Games, in page 36; which are faid to be as old as the time of King Arthur. Alfo Brand's Popular Antiquities, chap. XVII. p. 201, &c.-King Charles's declaration to his fubjects, concerning lawful Iports to be used.And the downfall of May-Games, by Tho. Hall. 3 See an account of the Mafter of the Revels:-Alfo, Dugdale fpeaks of the Revels of Lincoln's Inn, as appeareth in 9th of Henry VI.—Hawkins's History of Mufic, Vol. IV. p. 392. Vol. II. p. 193, 137-King Henry VIIIth, had a mafquerade at Greenwich. Likewife, fee Popular Antiquities by Brand. Hawkins's Hiftory of Mufic, Vol. IV. p. 383. And the Anatomy of Abuses, by Philip Stubs. 5 Brand's Popular Antiquities, p. 299. 6 Interludes are common in Wales, and they ufed to be the fame in Cornwall. 7 A jester is well characterized in Shakespeare's Tempest: and is commonly a St. George. The Knight. St. George gets Room, room, make room brave gallants all; incipal character in the Welsh interludes; It first originated, probably, from The Doctor enters. the Teuluwr, fee page 84. 8 Waits, are muficians of the lower order, who commonly perform upon wind instruments, and play in moft towns, under the windows of the chief The Knight. inhabitants, at midnight, a fhort time before Christmas; for which they collect The Doctor. a Christmas-box, from house to houfe. They are faid to derive their name of Waits from being always in waiting to celebrate weddings, and other joyous events, happening within their district. Allo, fee Brand's Hiftory of Neweaftle upon Tyne, Vol. II. p. 353 and 717. There is a building at Newcastle, called Waits Tower, which was formerly the meeting-house of the town band of muficians. lbid. Vol. I. p. 16. 9 It is customary in North Wales, about Christmas, for the young farmers, both men and maids, to go about to their neighbours houfes, disguised in each others clothes, and fometimes in masks. They are called Gwrashod, probably from their affuming old characters, or wizards. They act various antic diverfions, and dance, and fing; for which they get good cheer; or ale, apples, and nuts. Likewife, to convey a more perfect idea of the Mummers in England, I fhall infert here a traditional fort of thing, which is still acted in Oxfordshire, about Christmas, by the Muminers. I am a Doctor, and a Doctor good, I cure coughs, colds, fevers, gout, "My father he killed a fine fat hog, "My mother gave me the guts of the hog, "To make a Hurdy Gurdy." Then they repeat the fong in full chorus, and dance, In former times, it appears, that the firft nobility went about at Christmas, in the character of Mummers. See Brand's Popular Antiquities, chap. XVI. p. 196, &c. In the third year of Henry the Viilth an act was made against Mummers; vide the ftatutes. 10 The 109 THE CHARGE TO THE MINSTRELS. "The Charge delivered in the Mufic Court of the Honour of Tutbury. "Gentlemen of these Inquests! "The annual custom and usage of this honourable and ancient Court, having now called you together, fomething, I fuppofe, is expected fhould be faid of the delightful Art and harmonious Science you profefs." "Gentlemen, The nature of your Art confists in raising, and skilfully regulating harmonious founds. All founds (as the philofopher obferves,) arise from the quick and nimble elifion, or percuffion, of the air, being either divided by the Lips, or reeds, of Pipes, Hautboys, Flutes, or other wind instruments, or elfé struck and put into motion by the tremulous vibration of ftrings, yields an agreeable found to the ear. Now, it is your business, Gentlemen, to regulate, compofe, and exprefs, these founds, fo as to cause the different tones, or notes, to agree in concord, to make up one perfect concert and harmony. "As for the Antiquity of Mufic, it will fuffice, that we read of Jubal, the fon of Lamech, the seventh from Adam, (whom fome will have to be the Apollo of the Heathens,) being the father of all fuch as handle the Harp and Organ, and probably, most other forts of mufic "." "After the Flood 12 are first said to have had this Art; and, about the time of the confufion of tongues, Mifraim, the fon of Ham, is faid to have carried this Art, with its company, into Egypt, where it was so much practised and improved, that fucceeding generations, who knew not the writings of Mofes, believed the Egyptians were the first inventors of mufic. Laban, the Syrian, expoftulated with his fon-in-law, why he would not let him send him away with Mirth, and with Songs, with Tabret and with Harp. But the Heathen writers are much divided about the author, or firft invention thereof: some say Orpheus, fome Lynus; (both famous poets and Musicians ;) others Amphion; and the Egyptians ascribed the invention to Apollo; but, as I before obferved, the facred History puts an end to this conteft, by telling us, that Jubal, the fon of Lamech, and brotherof Noah, was father of all fuch as handle the Harp and Organ; and, probably, many other kinds of music: for, what variety of inventions, as well as improvements, of musical instruments, might be expected from such a genius, in the space of seven or eight hundred years experience? This Jubal (as I before faid) is by the learned thought to be the Apollo of the Heathens; but, as facred, and profane History make them cotemporary, we may reasonably infer, that the Egyptians held this fcience in the highest esteem, from their making Apollo (the God of Wisdom) the god of it. There is not the smallest orb we behold amidst the glorious canopy of the Heavens, nor the minutest species of the animal or vegetable creation throughout the terraqueous globe, as well in its make, motion, and appendages, but in its motions, compofition and œconomy, like an Angel fings. For, when we confider the exquifite Harmony that vifibly appears' through the whole creation, and the feathered race, as one heavenly chorus, continually warbling forth their praise to the Great Creator; I fay, when we permit fuch thoughts as these to have due influence upon us, we must conclude that the univerfal frame is derived from Harmony; and that the eternal mind composed all things by the laws of mufic; and which gives plain and evincing hints to mankind, that as nothing but beauty, fymmetry, and true Harmony are difcovered through the creation, so their duty to their Great Creator would be beft expreffed by a chain of harmonious actions, agreeable to reason and the dignity of their natures, and fuch as would really befpeak God's fervice to be the most perfect freedom. Thus is mufic a reprefentation of the sweet content and harmony, which God, in his wisdom, has made to appear throughout all his works. With what noble and fublime contemplations ought the melodious science of mufic, naturally to infpire our minds! Thus Holy David, the Royal Pfalmift, well experienced the powerful effects of mufic. You seldom meet him without an inftrument in his hand, and a pfalm in his mouth. Holy metres and pfalms he 10 The Morris dancers are fully described in the laft edition of Johnson and Stephens's Shakespeare, in the notes at the end of the first part of Henry the Fourth; and a print of them from an ancient painted window. See alfo, the notes to Love's Labour loft, act III. There is a very curious picture that contains a group of Morris-dancers, at Lord Fitzwilliam's Houfe, on Richmond Green, which formerly was brought from the old palace there. it was painted by Vinkenboom, about the reign of Charles the First; and there is a bad print taken from it, engraved by Godfrey, in 1774. Query, whether Morris is derived from mawr-rwyje, powerful, warlike; or from mor ryt, a fea-faring hero? (Dr. Johnfon derives it from the Moors, and fays it was probably a kind of Pyrrhic, or military dance : fee the fword-dance defcribed in Brand's Popular Antiquities, chap. XIV. and the appendix, 4 p. 404.) In fome Counties the Morris-dancers go about at Whitfuntide. But Plot's Hiftory of Staffordshire mentions the Hobby-horfe dance, at Christmas, chap. X. 66. Some imagine that this dance firft took its rife from the Druids, as well as many other feftival entertainments, and characters; that of the Buffoon, or Merry Andrew, who ufually bears a principal part in the Morris dance, it is faid to have been originally intended as a ridicule on the Druids, or a mock Druid. However, I refer the curious to more on this fubject, in Brand's Popular Antiquities, chap. XIV. p. 174, 175; and the appendix, p. 499, and 400.- -Likewife, Hawkins's Hiftory of Mufic, Vol. II. p. 135. Feuillet on Dancing, by Weaver, 12mo. p. 171. dedicated to the chief musician Feduthun, to compofe mufic to them; he was one in whom the Spirit of God delighted to dwell; no evil spirit can subdue that mind where mufic, and harmony are lodged. When David played before Saul, the evil spirit departed immediately. The use of mufic was continued in the Jewish church until the destruction of the Temple, and Nation by Titus; and the ufe of it began in the Christian church in the time of the Apostles. The Christian Emperors, Kings, and Princes, in all ages, and in all Nations, to this day, have had this divine science in great esteem and honour, as well for divine, as civil uses; not only Jews and Christians, but most of the heathen poets and philofophers, were skilful muficians. Homer, who was a fkilful mafter in that fcience, introduces Achilles quelling his rage against Agamemnon, by the help of mufic. And the poet feigned that Orpheus drew trees, ftones, and floods; fince nought, fo stockish hard and full of rage, but music, for the time, doth change its nature. Plutarch tells us of Terpander's appeafing a feditious infurrection in Lacedæmonia by his harmonious lays. Pythagoras is faid to have foftened fierce Minas; Afclepiades to have put a stop to fedition; Damon to have reduced a drunken man to fobriety, and petulent men to a modeft behaviour; and Xenocrates to have brought madmen to themselves, and all by the help of mufical founds. The evil fpirit was removed from Saul, and he prophefied, and this by the efficacy of mufic. And Elisha, when he was consulted by the three Kings that marched against Moab, called for a Minstrel; and, when the Minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came upon him *. Music expels poison by rarifying and exhilarating the spirits. Perfons bit by the tarantula have been (as by good authors we are informed) cured by mufic. Amphion was fo great an orator and musician, that by the power of his oratory, and powerful touch of his musical Lute, the ftones that built Thebes, a city in Egypt, danced after him to the place where they should be laid; and his moving oratory, fweet harmony and mufical founds, did fo creep into the ears, and steal upon the hearts of a people, rude and uncivilized, as engaged them to live peaceably together at Thebes, where he was King. Mufical facrifices and adorations claimed a place in the laws and cuftoms of the most different nations. The Grecians, and Romans, as well as Jews, and Chriftians, unanimously agreed in this, as they disagreed in all other parts of their ceremonies. The Greeks, and Romans had their college, or fociety of musicians, whose art they thought useful to introduce virtue, and excite courage. Tully tells us, that the ancient Grecians (the politeft people of the age) did not think a gentleman well-bred, unless he could perform his part at a concert of mufic, infomuch that Themiftocles (though otherwise a great man,) was taxed for being defective in this accomplishment. But to come nearer to ourselves, history tells us, that the ancient Britons had Bards, before they had Books; and the Romans, by whom they were conquered, confefs the mighty power the Druids and Bards had over the people, by recording in their Songs the deeds of heroic spirits, and teaching them both Laws, and religion in Rhymes and Tunes. I And the long continuance of this very Court of Minstrelfy is a teftimony of the antiquity of Mufic amongst us. Theodoric, in an epiftle to Boëtius, fays, when this queen of the fenfes comes forth in her gay drefs, all other thoughts give way, and the foul rallies its powers to receive the Delight which the gives; the cheers the forrowful, foftens the furious and enraged, fweetens four tempers, gives a check to loose, impure, wanton thoughts, and melts to pure and chafte defires; the captivates the ftrayed faculties, and moulds them into a ferene, fober, and juft, economy. I fay, Gentlemen, the force of mufic is wonderful; how ftrangely does it awaken the mind; it infuses an unexpected vigour, makes the impreffion agreeable and fprightly, gives a new capacity as well as fatisfaction; it rifes, and falls, and counterchanges the paffions; it charms and transports, ruffles, and becalms, and governs with an almost arbitrary power; there is fcarely any conftitution fo heavy, or reason so well fortified, as to be abfolute proof against it. Ulyffes, as much a hero as he was, durft not trust himself with Syren's voices. Timotheus, a Grecian, was fo great a mafter of mufic, that he could make a man ftorm and swagger like a tempeft; and then, by altering his notes and time, he would take him down again and fweeten his temper in a trice. One time, when Alexander was at dinner, this man played a Phrygian * II. Kings, chap. III. verfe 15.-I. Samuel, chap. X, verses 5 and 6. The Minstrels feem to have been the genuine fucceffors of the latter Bards. The word Minfrel does not appear in use in England before the Norman conqueft. The Minstrels continued down to the reign of Elizabeth, in whose time they had loft much of their dignity, and were finking into contempt and neglect. See Statutes 39 of Elizabeth, c. 4. § 2. And43 Eliz, Cap. XV. Ff Taillefer THE CHARGE TO THE MINSTRELS, AT THE COURT OF TUTBURY. gian air, the prince immediately rifes, fnatches up his launce, and puts himself in a pofture of fighting; the retreat was no fooner founded by the change of notes, but his arms were grounded, and his fire extinct, and he fat down as orderly as if come in from one of Ariftotle's lectures. Have you, Gentlemen, never obferved a captain at the head of a troop or company, how much he has been altered at the found of a Trumpet, or the beat of a Drum; or what a vigorous motion, what an erected posture, what an enterprifing visage? all of a fudden his blood changes in his veins, and his fpirit jumps like gun-powder, and feems impatient to attack the enemy. Mufic is able to exert its force, not only the affections, but on the parts of the body, as appears from Mr. Derham's ftory of the Gafcoign. Knight, that once had difobliged him; and, to be even with him, caused, at a feaft, a Bagpipe to be played when he was hemmed in with the company, which made the knight to be-p-s himself, to the great diverfion of the company. upon But farther, Gentlemen, not only mankind, but the very beafts of the field, are delighted with mufic. The beafts of the plough, their toil is rendered eafy, and the long fatigue they daily undergo, is infenfibly shortened by the rural Songs and cheering Whistle of the drivers. Not only dogs and horfes, (thofe docile and fagacious animals,) but even the rugged bears themselves, dance to the found of pipes, and fiddles. Do but note a wild and wanton herd, or race of juvenile and unbacked colts fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing aloud, (the hot conditions of their blood,) if they perchance do hear a Trumpet found, or any mufic touch their ears, you fhall perceive them make a mutual ftand, and their favage eyes turned to a modeft gaze, by the fweet powers of mufic. The famous Mr. John Playford tells us a remarkable story to this purpofe; that himfelf, once travelling near Royston, met a herd of stags, about 20 upon the road, following a Bagpipe and Violin: when the mufic played they went forward, when it ceased they all food still; and in this manner they were conducted out of Yorkshire to the King's palace at Hampton-court. But not only brute beafts, but even inanimate bodies, are affected with founds. Kircher mentions a large stone that would tremble at the found of one particular organ-pipe. Merfennus also, among many ́relations, tells us of a particular part of a pavement that would shake as if the earth would open when the organ played; this is more probable than what he relates about antipathy, (to wit,) that the found of a Drum, made of a wolf's skin, would break another made of a sheep's fkin; and that poultry would fly and cackle at the found of a Harp-ftring made of a fox's gut. The great Boyle alfo tells us, that he tried an arch that would answer to C fa, and had done fo 100 years; and that an experienced builder told him, any well-built vault would answer fome determinate note; and Mr. Derham tells us, that one Nicholas Petter, a Dutchman, could break round glaffes with the found of his voice. It is the common, or civil use of mufic that concerns you, Gentlemen, that owe fuit and service to this Court; and in that, the world has not wanted examples, even of Emperors, Princes, and the greatest and moft illuftrious perfons have not difdained, both to learn and practise your art. It is mufic, which gains you admittance and accceptance in courts, and palaces. In short, Gentlemen, what feaft, what play, affembly, or ball, what country-wakes, merriment, or entertainment, can be well held without foine of your fociety. Our great dramatic poet fays, "The Man that hath not Mufic in his foul, "And is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, "It fit for treafons, ftratagems, and spoils; "The motions of his fpirit are dull as night, "And his affections dark as Erebus - And now, Gentlemen, having spoke a few words of the nature, antiquity. usefulness, and wonderful effects, of mufic, I fhall now proceed to inform you, that, as long as the ancient Earls, and Dukes of Lancaster, who were ever of the Blood Royal, had their abode, and kept a liberal hofpitality at their Honor of Tutbury, there could not but be a general concourse of people from all parts, for whofe diverfions, all forts of musicians were permitted likewife to come, to pay their fervices; amongft whom, fome quarres and disorders now and then arifing, it was found neceffary, after a while, that they fhould be brought under Rules, and Laws; and that the end of your attendance and service at this time, is the prefervation of Taillefer, the Minstrel is faid to have been the first perfon that broke into the English ranks at the battle of Haftings and of Berdic, another French Minstrel attached to the Conqueror, by whom he was rewarded with the gift of three parishes in Gloucestershire. George Ellis's Specimeus of early English Poetry. the |