Volume 1

The antiquary's portfolio, or cabinet selection of historical & literary curiosities, on subjects principally connected with the manners, customs, and morals; civil, military, and ecclesiastical government, &c. &c. of Great Britain, during the Middle and later ages. (With notes.) / By J.S. Forsyth.

  • Forsyth, J. S.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The antiquary's portfolio, or cabinet selection of historical & literary curiosities, on subjects principally connected with the manners, customs, and morals; civil, military, and ecclesiastical government, &c. &c. of Great Britain, during the Middle and later ages. (With notes.) / By J.S. Forsyth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    66/422 (page 34)
    ARTS, SCIENCES, AND COMMERCE OF ENGLAND, FROM THE HEPTARCHY TO THE END OF THE REIGN OF RICHARD II. Poetry, Music, and Musical Instruments. Poetry was in the highest esteem with all the northern nations, and the fragments left by the Welsh bards, show that Britain stood forward in that science. It wanted not regal encouragement: “ Should I desire the moon of my Prince as a pre- sent, (sings a Briton, with a happy enthusiasm,) he would bestow it on me.”—Specimens of Welsh Poetry. The sacred regard in which the minstrels were held, even by the barbarous Danes, is plainly shewn by the method that Alfred took to inspect the camp of his foe. Music was not unknown in these gloomy times; the harp was universally studied and honoured by Saxons and Britons. A erwth or crowd, which in some measure resembled the modern violin, was used in Wales ; in the reign of Edgar, St. Dun- stan gave a fine organ to Glastonbury ; and thus W. of Malmsbury describes it :—“ Organo, ubi per rnrieas fistulas musicis mensuris elaboratas, dud- um conceptas, follis vomit anxius auras.” But it was to vocal improvements in church music that the greatest attention was paid in Eng- land ; teachers were sent for, at a great cost, from distant countries; and the monks frequently tra-