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Song Lore of Ireland, The, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 40

Song Lore of Ireland, The, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 40
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periodical Publisher
The Baker & Taylor Co., New York, 1911
periodical Editor
[none]
periodical Title
Song Lore of Ireland, The
volume Number
1
issue Content
68 THE SONG LORE OF IRELANDIncidentally it may be remarked that, althoughthe piano is the most convenient means of express-ing these different scales, it is not a good one. Forthe piano is an instrument of compromise. It usesone key to express tw notes: C sharp and D fiat areidentical. On stringed instruments like the violin,there is a subtle differenceonly a few vibrations, itis true, but still appreciable by the human earbe-tween C sharp and D fiat, D sharp and E fiat, andso on. If we wish to get a true idea of the scaleswe must have recourse to violin, viola or cello. Ifall Irish tunes could be played on these instruments,instead of on the piano, their beauty would be moremay be applied to any key of our modern system. Theymay begin on any note of the keyboard. Here are the fourscales:Ex. 9. Mixolydlan Scale.-H-0-H-Ex. 10.j L 1 1-I-Scale of (1 MaJor.I- -sII J flEx. 11.Hypodorlan Mode.JIJal-jJJJilEx. 12.Scale of A Minor.L __ 1_-a-IaJ - - IITHE NATURE OF IRISH MUSIC 69clearly evident than any keyed instrument canmake it.These ancient scales sound strange, almost grim,to the unaccustomed ear; but famiLiarity revealsgreat beauty in them. The Hypodorian mode.which is really the minor mode in its oldest formis of peculiar spirituality. It may be adapted toany key. Perhaps there is no more beautiful ex-ample of a melody in this old mode than 0 Arran-more. It is sweet and sad and Moores words arefull of a tender sorrow. From the fiat in the sig-nature and the commencement of the air on D, auperficia1 observer might jump to the conclusionthat it was in the key of D minor. But, if thatwere the case, there would be a C sharp in the melody,whereas the C remains natural throughout. It isthe fiat seventh of Gregorian music.Ex. 13. 0 Arranmore. - N N - _ -.S .S-IE NN 4 -- ---- N N j 1I I, ,N [ J . J N . j 1 rJ) iit III.
issue Number
1
page Number
40
periodical Author
Mason, Redfern
issue Publication Date
1911-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

The Song Lore of Ireland

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