Escheats and fines appointed to be given to the minstrels along with the heralds Decline of minstrelsy-Penal statutes-Sir George Mackenzie's opinion of these, Vagrants of former times-Ritson's erroneous views of the ancient minstrels- The French troubadours and minstrels-Connection between Scotland and France, The Royal Family of Scotland-Their taste in music-James VI. also a lover and Different species of lutes, &c.-The music adopted on festal occasions-Used at the French Court during the reign of James V.-Hautbois, cornets, schawmes, ANCIENT MSS. OF SCOTISH MUSIC, WITH AN ENQUIRY INTO ITS ANTIQUITY Extreme scarcity of documents illustrative of ancient popular music-The manner in which this is accounted for in Scotland-Want of information with respect to the early history of Scotish music-Mr Ritson's doubts, Recovery of ancient MSS. since his time-Account of these-Rowallan MS., 136 music of Scotland than can be produced of that of Wales or Ireland, Their utility in illustrating the history of Scotish music, &c., . James the First's composition and improvement of Scotish music considered, Arrival of Sir William Rogers, an era in the history of the art in Scotland, Old airs probably collected, and others composed in imitation of them, during the Mr Tytler's opinions, and those of the author of Dissertation prefixed to Thom- ib. Remarks on the analogy between the Scotish music and the Canto fermo of the Denied by Ritson and others that any of the Scotish airs originated in the Church Songs in ridicule of the Papists composed to be sung to the music of the Ritual, The popular music of the Middle Ages, in general, differed little from that of the Church-Opinions of Hawkins, Burney, Berardi-Influence of Canto fermo Omission of the 4th and 7th of the scale incidental to imperfection of wind instruments, but neither that nor the influence of the Canto fermo sufficient al- together to account for the partiality which the Scots have shown for this par- ticular style of melody-The national music of many other countries chromatic, The existence of a primitive national scale denied-The chromatic series most common to savage nations-The Chinese not ignorant of semitones, The superior animation and variety of the vocal music of Ireland and Scotland partly attributable to skill in instrumental music-The music of these countries Examples of Canto fermo compared with the Scotish music, Peculiarities of the latter referable to the ancient tonality, PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. WHILE the translation into modern musical characters of this curious Manuscript is the work of a gentleman whose long experience, and wellknown scientific and practical attainments, form a sufficient guarantee for the fidelity, the judgment, and the accuracy, with which that duty has been performed, a few words of explanation may be necessary on behalf of the Editor, by whom the preparation of the following Dissertation and Notes has been undertaken. Could he have formed any previous idea of the labour and research which it required, he would at once have deferred to some individual better qualified than himself to do it justice; and, had it not been that his deficiencies were, in some degree, supplied by the liberal assistance which he has been so fortunate as to receive from many who have distinguished themselves in the field of archæological research, and the free and unreserved access which he has been permitted to many interesting original documents, both printed and manuscript, he would scarcely have ventured to give publicity to the result of his labours; the more especially, as other avocations of a graver sort have greatly circumscribed the leisure which he has had it in his power to devote to the subject. At the same time, it is his belief, that had that leisure been extended to as many years A |