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Grattan Flood - A History of Irish Music, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 48

Grattan Flood - A History of Irish Music, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 48
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periodical Publisher
Browne and Nolan Ltd, Dublin 1913
periodical Editor
[none]
periodical Title
Grattan Flood - A History of Irish Music
volume Number
1
issue Content
rHISTORY OF IRISH MUSIC.IlU ll80from 1425, with John Dunstable as its founder, whodied December 24th, 453.The wars of the Roses, which commenced in 1455,added materially to the existing strife in Ireland. Wefind the Geraidjues of Kildare and Desmond, takingsides with the Yorkists, whilst the Ormondists threwin their lot with the Lancastr;ans, and of course, theAnglo.Irjs and Celts participated in the general rnle.Three.fourthz of Ireland still belonged to the natives,and the English were obliged to pay heavy tribute to theIrish chiefs as a guarantee for peace. Thus, the baronyof Leca disbursed o a-year to ONeill of Clanaboy;the County of Uriel 40 to the ONeill; the CountyWexford, o to Mac Murrough; the county Limerick40 to. OBrien; the County Cork 4o to Mac Carthy ofMuskerry; the counties of Kilkenny and Tipperary oto OCarrol]; the county Kildare 20 to QConor, etc.,etc.About the year 1455 flourished an Irish Cistercianmonk, Brother Aengus, of Holy Cross Abbey, Co.Tipperary, who was a harper, organist, organ buildeand composer. He joined the community of Duiske(Graignamaflag Co. Kilkenny), in 1460, and wasWelcomed, notwithstanding the Statute of Rilkenny.The Annals of Duisbe describe him in the most eulogis..tic terms. He especially won the favour of the thenEnglish Abbot of Duiske, by repairing the abbeyorgan which had been, for many years, discardedowing to its bellows having proved a prey to damp andrats. The Anglo .Irish annalist adds : In truth,Brother Aengus excels in music any citharist (harper)ever heard in these parts; for not alone is he a masterIRISH MUSIC IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. 81.of psalmody and faux bourdon, as is evidenced by hissetting of Benedicani Dominum, but he is even acunning performer on the crust. In 1461, died FelimyONeill, described as a man of hospitality and prowess,and head of the bardic bands and pilgrims of Ireland .,and one that was a most extensive purchaser of poeticand erudite compositions, and was the greatest rhymerthat was in Ireland in his time.(Annais of Ulster.)The Statute of Kilkenny, forbidding the English orAnglo-Irish of the Pale to receive or entertain Irishminstrels, was put in force by a new act, passed in1481. Six different classes of bards are enumerated,and the strictest orders were given not on any accountto permit harpers as guests.In 1482 we meet with an interesting side-light ofhistory in connection with the city of Waterford, show-ing clearly how the Urbs Intacta had resolved tomaintain its loyal reputation, and uphold the penalenactments of the Statute of Kilkenny even against aBishop who was a mere Irishman. Nicholas OHen-nessy, Cistercian Abbot of Fermoy, had been providedby Pope Sixtus IV., on May 20th, 1480, to the unitedSees of Lismore and Waterford, and was consecratedBishop in 1481. This appointment was freely acqui-esced in by the Chapter, clergy, and people of Lismore,yet the Waterford clergy and laity objected to the newBishop on the plea that he was Irish spoken, and didnot understand the English language. On December30th, 1482, the Pope bade the Archbishop of Cashelto excommunicate the Waterford Chapter and clergyin case they should still he contumacious, and, ifnecessary, to invoke the aid of the secular arm. But,G
issue Number
1
page Number
48
periodical Author
Grattan Flood, Wm. H.
issue Publication Date
1913-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Grattan Flood - A History of Irish Music

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