ST. K.ILDA. HIGHLAND MUSIC. 39 



Ireland, airs of a character derived from the harp pre- 

 dominate, while, in the Highlands, they are rare : among 

 the most ancient they seem altogether wanting. Between 

 the latter and the Welsh, the distance in point of style is 

 much more complete. It is apparent, that in Ireland, and 

 in Wales more particularly, a complete diatonic scale 

 must have been known when the Highlands were still 

 ignorant of it ; while it is also evident that these nations 

 possessed a far greater range of scale. Their knowledge 

 of music is thus proved to have been greater; while, 

 by means of chromatic notes, they had also the power of 

 modulating into keys impracticable to the Highlanders. 

 Another character yet, distinguishes these national compo- 

 sitions. In the Highland airs, the adagio movement is 

 common, and the sostenuto occurs every where. In the 

 music of the harp, a sostenuto is impossible; and thus 

 the melodies either assume a more allegro character, 

 or the want of a sustained sound is remedied in the com- 

 position, by the substitution of a more florid style of descant 

 on the fundamental notes of the melody. Admitting 

 the general existence of the harp at a remote period, 

 it would still appear from these circumstances, that a 

 more ancient and imperfect instrument had laid the 

 foundation of the style, and that the harp, like the voice, 

 and like the violin in later times, had followed. Ex- 

 ceptions to a certain extent may easily be admitted even 

 on this supposition; and thus may have originated in 

 the Highlands, those airs which are more particularly 

 characteristic of the harp, and which have been referred 

 to Ireland. Even if the true origin of the scale of five 

 notes has not thus been traced to its source in this coun- 

 try ; even if it should be conceived, like the scale of 

 the Chinese and the Javanese, to be derived from some 

 more distant fountain, or to be founded in nature, and 

 thus to have been the cause, not the consequence of 

 mechanical construction in the instruments, it will not 

 affect the following reasoning which attempts to derive 



