334 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE 



In the conclufion of this chapter, it may be proper 

 to fay fomething refpecling the generally fuppofed 

 antiquity of the prefent national tunes of the Welfh. 

 Thofe writers who wifli it to be underflood that the 

 laws of counterpoint were known aniongft the bards, 

 reft a confiderable portion of their argument on the 

 account given by Giraldus Cambrenfis, ofthefmging 

 of the Britons, about the year 1188. " The Bri- 

 tons do not fmg in unifon Hke the inhabitants of other 

 countries ; but in many different parts : fo that when 

 a company of fingers am.ong tiie common people 

 meet to fing, as is ufual in thi>; country, as many diffe- 

 rent parts are heard as there are performers, who all 

 at length unite in confonance with organic piveetnefs. 

 In the northen parts of Britain, beyond theHumber, 

 on the borders of Yorklhire, the inhabitants ufe the 

 fame kind of fymphonious harmony, except that they 

 only fing in two parts, the one murmuring in the 

 bafs, and the other warbling in the acute or treble. 

 Nor do thefe two nations practice this kind of finging 

 fo much by art as by habit ^ which has rendered it fo 

 natural to them, that neith^ in Wales, where they 

 fing in many parts, nor in the North of England 

 where they fing only in two parts, is a nmple melody 

 ever well fung. And what is ftill more wonderful, 

 their children as foon as they attempt ufing their 

 voices fing in the fame manner*.** 



• Cainbrlas defcriptio. 



The 



