Celtic Harp: 17th-Century Scottish Music 03

The Balcarres Lute Book is a late 17th-century compilation of mostly Scottish music arranged for lute. Thanks to the Universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen and the editorial work of Matthew Spring, we have a facsimile edition of the lute tablature and a grand-staff transcription, from which I shall be playing.
I have chosen to focus on native Scottish pieces and to omit the foreign, predominantly French, ones. Also, I shall omit, at least for the time being, some pieces that are excessively long, though I may come back to them at a later date. In some cases, though, I shall have to omit a not-too-long native Scottish piece as well because it is not technically possible on the harp, requiring the left hand to play a note and flip a lever at the same time. Also, on very rare occasions, I might have to move a note to a different octave to make it playable on the harp.
Many of the pieces in this manuscript consist of paired strains and thus have an AB structure. Where the AB structure occurs only once, I treat the double bars as repeat signs. In cases where the AB structure appears two or more times, I treat the double bars simply as section divisions.
The most common ornament in the lute tablature is a comma sign after a note. On shorter notes, I treat it as an appoggiatura and on longer notes generally as a short trill, though on the lute I would probably do something a little more elaborate.
It is my present plan to post these pieces in groups of ten at two-week intervals. The following pieces are given in this video:
00:00: Another New Scots Measure
01:24: My Bird, If I Come Neer Thee
02:48: The Yellow Haired Laddie
04:55: The Gaberlunie Man
07:00: Willie Winks
09:08: The Soldier’s Misery
11:44: Balow
13:19: Nathaniell Gordon, the Old Way
14:51: Nathaniell Gordon, the New Way
16:24: Tarphicken
The first three videos in this series are now available in this playlist, to which further videos will be added as they become available: • Video .
You may find a playlist of my other harp work here: studio.youtube....

[@ukefan9]

Very peaceful and thoughtful. Your playing is like the waters. This sound is from a time before electricity and modern conveniences, where all they had was music

[@stephenarndt1943]

Thank you, Jacob! The music of the distant past has always seemed like a refuge from the noise of the present to me. I'm glad you're enjoying this series.

[@ukefan9]

Most welcome sir! Yes, I agree there, it's like a refuge and escape to within, to find the stillness in the mind. Isn't this what music is for? Days by the calm waters and quiet nights and candle lights where we hear ourselves breathe and think of pleasant memories. 🙂

[@GerhardTorkler]

Lieben Dank für die weiteren Stücke. Besonders gefällt mir "The Soldier's Misery", Gerhard

[@stephenarndt1943]

Das freut mich.

[@Viennalute]

Vielen DANK, lieber Stephen. Tolle Musik und Performance. In some weeks I will concentrate on one piece only from the Balcarres Lute Book. Frohe Ostern. Bernhard.

[@stephenarndt1943]

Ich danke Dir, Bernhard. Ich gebe zu, ich liebe diese Musik. Was mich aber vor allem daran frustriert ist, dass ich die ganzen Verzierungen auf der Harfe nicht spielen kann, wie ich es auf der Laute tun würde. Ich bin gespannt auf Deine nächste Aufnahme.

[@nissi.k]

So lovely Stephen! Thank you! 🙌

[@stephenarndt1943]

Thank you so much, Nissi. It's always such a pleasure to hear from you.

[@flamenfloralis]

How beautiful: your performance on the Celtic harp, the original composition, and the painting by Paul Sandby !

[@stephenarndt1943]

Thank you so much, Massimo! It's great to hear from you! A proposito, stiamo programmando di trascorrere dieci giorni a Roma all'inizio di novembre. Se abiti in quella città o non troppo lontano, mi farebbe molto piacere conoscerti di persona.

[@flamenfloralis]

@@stephenarndt1943 Stephen, a Roma sono nato e vissuto, ma da oltre 40 anni vivo nel nord dell’Italia, a Bergamo, 50 km da Milano. Anche a me farebbe piacere conoscerti. Se ti fosse possibile includere Milano nel viaggio di ritorno, sareste nostri graditi ospiti, e vi porteremmo a visitare la parte medioevale di Bergamo, ne varrebbe la pena…

[@stephenarndt1943]

D'ora in poi speriamo di visitare l'Europa una volta all'anno. Questa volta vogliamo concentrarci su Roma. Forse faremo un giro per il nord dell' Italia in un altro viaggio, ma tante grazie per il gentile invito.

[@flamenfloralis]

@@stephenarndt1943 Allora, auguri di buon viaggio !