ST. KILDA. -HIGHLAND MUSIC. 43 



been ranked among the melodies of Scotland, to purify 

 that list in such a manner, or so to class the several airs, 

 as to render the subject clear. To a great extent it may 

 however be done, and in executing that fask, it is neither 

 difficult to trace the genuine character in the far greater 

 number of those of acknowledged antiquity, nor to per- 

 ceive the progress by which they have been gradually 

 refined and altered from the simple Gaelic melodies. The 

 causes already mentioned, namely, the introduction of the 

 violin, and the acquisition of ideas introduced from a more 

 refined cast of music, together with the increased use 

 of keyed instruments, have all contributed to modify their 

 character ; often indeed nearly to its extinction. Thus 

 a more florid melody has sometimes been engrafted on 

 the original phrases, occasional passing notes have been 

 introduced, illegitimate transitions have been suppressed 

 or modified, and additional parts have been supplied : 

 even the system of the air has sometimes been totally 

 changed, and, on the foundation of a few of the most 

 characteristic passages, a new one of a more refined cha- 

 racter has been constructed. In the hands of taste and 

 education they have often thus been improved, even when 

 their character has been in a great measure lost. In 

 other cases, illegitimate and incongruous compounds 

 have been formed between them and those melodies of 

 a more modern school which have long been the common 

 property of all musicians ; while in an hundred other 

 instances, the flimsy compositions of no style, which have 

 been generated in the English theatre and in Vauxhall, 

 (fertile sources of bad taste,) have been introduced among 

 them, to the confusion of all character and the reproach 

 of the catalogue. Unfortunately, musical knowledge and 

 taste is not widely diffused through Scotland ; and thus, 

 while innumerable worthless compositions have been 

 adopted, simply from being introduced under the name 

 of a Scottish air, many of the ancient and charac- 

 teristic melodies have fallen into oblivion. It is difficult 

 for those who are not in the habit of analyzing their sen- 



