Early music Music of Scotland

the harper on monifeith pictish stone, 700 – 900 ad

stringed instruments have been known in scotland @ least iron age; first evidence of lyres outwith greco-roman world found on isle of skye, dating 2300 bc, making europe s oldest surviving stringed instrument. bards, acted musicians, poets, story tellers, historians, genealogists , lawyers, relying on oral tradition stretched generations, found in scotland wales , ireland. accompanying on harp, can seen in records of scottish courts throughout medieval period. scottish church music later middle ages increasingly influenced continental developments, figures 13th-century musical theorist simon tailler studying in paris, before returned scotland introduced several reforms of church music. scottish collections of music 13th-century wolfenbüttel 677 , associated st andrews, contain french compositions, distinctive local styles. captivity of james in england 1406 1423, earned reputation poet , composer, may have led him take english , continental styles , musicians scottish court on release. in late 15th century series of scottish musicians trained in netherlands before returning home, including john broune, thomas inglis , john fety, last of whom became master of song school in aberdeen , edinburgh, introducing new five-fingered organ playing technique. in 1501 james iv refounded chapel royal within stirling castle, new , enlarged choir , became focus of scottish liturgical music. burgundian , english influences reinforced when henry vii s daughter margaret tudor married james iv in 1503. james v (1512–42) major patron of music. talented lute player, introduced french chansons , consorts of viols court , patron composers such david peebles (c. 1510–1579?).

the scottish reformation, directly influenced calvinism, opposed church music, leading removal of organs , growing emphasis on metrical psalms, including setting david peebles commissioned james stewart, 1st earl of moray. important work in scottish reformed music forme of prayers published in edinburgh in 1564. return france of james v s daughter, mary, queen of scots in 1561, renewed scottish court centre of musical patronage , performance. queen played lute, virginals , (unlike father) fine singer. brought many influences french court had been educated, employing lutenists , viol players in household. mary s position catholic gave new lease of life choir of scottish chapel royal in reign, destruction of scottish church organs meant instrumentation accompany mass had employ bands of musicians trumpets, drums, fifes, bagpipes , tabors. outstanding scottish composer of era robert carver (c.1485–c.1570) works included nineteen-part motet o bone jesu . james vi, king of scotland 1567, major patron of arts in general. rebuilt chapel royal @ stirling in 1594 , choir used state occasions baptism of son henry. followed tradition of employing lutenists private entertainment, did other members of family. when came south take throne of england in 1603 james i, removed 1 of major sources of patronage in scotland. scottish chapel royal used occasional state visits, when charles returned in 1633 crowned, bringing many musicians english chapel royal service, , began fall disrepair. on court in westminster major source of royal musical patronage.