Celtic Harp: 17th-Century Scottish Music 09

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: Donald Coupar
02:54: Pantaloon
04:02: Trenchmore
05:34: For Old Long Syne
07:07: Down the Burne Davie (Mr. Beck's Daughter's Way)
09:53: Down the Burne Davie (John Morrison's Way)
13:20: The Lady Erroll's Delight (John Red's Way)
14:46: The Lady Erroll's Delight (Mr. Lesslie's Way)
16:16: Bonnie Christian
17:44: John Robinson's Park
The first nine videos in this series are now available in this playlist, to which further videos will be added as they become available: • Celtic Harp: 17th-Cent... .
You may find a playlist of my other harp work here: studio.youtube....

[@nissi.k]

Thank you Stephen! I have so thoroughly enjoyed listening this morning. I find that you often obtain so many bell like rings and chimes as well as developing more lilt. This has been a comfort to me with that beautiful light of hope that seems to pervade Celtic music. Though life might be difficult at times tears may fall through smiling eyes. It is music that reaches higher than resigned circumstance that makes you sad. I think it is because it has an anchor of light, joy, and hopeful anticipation as I've mentioned. It wards off the despair of darkness by offering a balm of comfort. I loved all of these pieces but in particular the second one and second last one for some reason. Perhaps they soothed my soul in a special way. As disturbing as this world can be it isn't always easy to find things that acknowledge your feelings and also uplift you in spirit! Thank you for sharing!🙌🤍

[@stephenarndt1943]

As you may know, Nissi, Renaissance and baroque music are my favorites, and there is little folk music that really appeals to me. Celtic music, however, is an exception. I too find something inexplicably comforting and uplifting about it, something I cannot explain and would not have expressed as well as you did. I don't know whether other people experience this music the way you do, but offering the possibility of experiences like yours is the reason I do it. As always, thank you for listening and especially for your wonderful kindness in commenting.