Scottish, Irish and English music at the NLS

[MarkvN]

I’m not sure if this collection has featured here before; if so, I guess it’s worth a second mention. The National Library of Scotland has put its collection of traditional music on the internet, and it’s a treasure trove – more than 200 volumes digitised!

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=collection%3Anlsmusic&sort=-publicdate&page=1

 

And when you’re at it, also have a look at a set of rare Dutch prints from the mid-17th century in their collection, the Fluyten Lusthof by recorder player van Eyck, and the second volume of ’t Uitnement Kabinet: http://www.archive.org/details/acompositemusicv02rugg.

 

Mark

[P Carr]

How wonderful! Thanks for the heads up!

 

Pamela

[JimLucas]

The National Library of Scotland has put its collection of traditional music on the internet, and it’s a treasure trove – more than 200 volumes digitised!

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=collection%3Anlsmusic&sort=-publicdate&page=1

As if I didn't have enough in the queue already!

 

And when you’re at it, also have a look at a set of rare Dutch prints from the mid-17th century in their collection, the Fluyten Lusthof by recorder player van Eyck, and the second volume of ’t Uitnement Kabinet: http://www.archive.org/details/acompositemusicv02rugg.

An intriguing coincidence. Many years ago I picked up second hand a more modern edition of Fluyten Lusthof, in modern notation and a somewhat larger paperback format. At the time my reaction when I read through a number of the pieces was more "interesting" than "exciting", so I just stored it away. I think I should now find where I put it and see if my opinion has changed.

[MarkvN]

Many years ago I picked up second hand a more modern edition of Fluyten Lusthof, in modern notation and a somewhat larger paperback format. At the time my reaction when I read through a number of the pieces was more "interesting" than "exciting", so I just stored it away. I think I should now find where I put it and see if my opinion has changed.

 

Der Fluyten Lusthof and T Uitnement Kabinet are not your normal folk music fare. The first one is 'obligatory' stuff for Renaissance recorder players. Often based on popular folk tunes of the day, it builds variations by 'breaking up' the notes - an often used technique of the time, but not everyones cup of tea.

 

T Uitnement Kabinet, though closely related to the Fluyten Lusthof, containes more classical oriented material (though at the time the distinction between folk and classical may have been different or non-existent). That said, much of it is in a two-part, 8 (or 16) bars per part structure, typical of the music of 'speelmannen' or 'speellieden' (Dutch). (Not sure about the English translation: minstrel and troubadour seem too infer a different age). If Turlough O'Carolan is considered appropriate for folk music, why not this repertoire...?

 

I find it especially interesting to see how the dance culture changes from the 17th to the 18th century: in T Uitnement Kabinet, it's all (courtly) pavanes, galliardes, sarabanden, couranten, etc.

Mark

[jggunn]

fantastic collection!