A survey of the interaction of the native instruments like the Clarsach with new instruments usua... more A survey of the interaction of the native instruments like the Clarsach with new instruments usually introduced via the Royal Court
Tracing a family who started as harpers but over the generations changed instruments to instead p... more Tracing a family who started as harpers but over the generations changed instruments to instead play the lute.
A comparison of the comments on the 'Bards' sent by Prof Garden of Aberdeen to the English antiqu... more A comparison of the comments on the 'Bards' sent by Prof Garden of Aberdeen to the English antiquarian John Aubrey in 1692 when set against the evidence of the contemporary early 17th century accounts.
Foreword 1. Myth and Magic: The Harp in Legend and Song 2. Shapes and Stones: The Earliest Archae... more Foreword 1. Myth and Magic: The Harp in Legend and Song 2. Shapes and Stones: The Earliest Archaeological Evidence 3. Clarsach and Cruit: Early Literary References and Nomenclature in Gaelic Areas 4. Harp and Carp: Early Literary References in Non-Gaelic Areas 5. Harps of Their Owne Sorte: Descriptions of Surviving Instruments 6. Fiction and Facts: The History of the Three Old Harps Examined 7. Court and Courtiers: The Harp at the Royal Court in Scotland 8. The Scots Lairds: The Harp in Non-Gaelic Areas 9. Irish Interplay: Irish Travelling Harpers and Musical Connections 10. Highland Harpers: Highland Clans and Their Harping Connections 11. Rory Dall Morrison and His Contemporaries: Three Harpers of the Mid 17th and 18th Centuries 12. The Atholl Connection: Perthshire as a Centre of Harping Activity 13. Fading Echoes: The Decline of the Harp in the Highlands 14. Puirt, Uirt and Orgain: The Music of the Harps 15. Classic Revival: The Harp in 19th-Century Scotland 16. A Harp New-Strung: The Harp in the 20th-Century. Appendices.
The conundrum of the title refers to the problem of reconciling an authentic repertoire for thos... more The conundrum of the title refers to the problem of reconciling an authentic repertoire for those wishing to use replicas of the three early wire strung harps, with what little real evidence exists. Since as in any such exercise the foundations of any evidence base needs to be solid; this critical analysis examines how firm that foundation, based mostly on a few interlinked modern published works, really is. This also includes a fresh evaluation of an apocryphal story from the harper Arthur O’Neill’s memoir noted down circa 1808, which formed part of that evidence, by expanding on the brief discussion in an addendum to the article Mapping the Clarsach in Scotland https://www.wirestrungharp.com/harps/harpers/mapping-clarsach/
Edition, translation and analysis of a previously unpublished and unexamined entry to 1784 Highla... more Edition, translation and analysis of a previously unpublished and unexamined entry to 1784 Highland Society competition.
The likely historical event which led to the piobaireachd called The Piper's Warning. First publi... more The likely historical event which led to the piobaireachd called The Piper's Warning. First published in the Piping Times. Volume 61. Number 5. (February 2009)
A new look at the historical background to the origins of the instrument now known as the Lamont ... more A new look at the historical background to the origins of the instrument now known as the Lamont Harp and the connections to the Robertson Family of Lude in an attempt to reconcile the physical instrument to the contemporary evidence surrounding Lude and it's owners. Due to multiple footnotes the version with 'active numbering' may be easier to read. http://www.wirestrungharp.com/harps/historic/lamont_harp_history.html
A look at the pre 1650 distribution of players of the clarsach in Scotland and how that compares ... more A look at the pre 1650 distribution of players of the clarsach in Scotland and how that compares with the embryonic development of 'Highland Piping'.
Two linked articles, 'Travels of a gentleman piper' The diary of his journey by George Skene in ... more Two linked articles, 'Travels of a gentleman piper' The diary of his journey by George Skene in 1729. (Common Stock. vol 4. No 1. January 1989) and 'Skene's diary: a postscript' (Common Stock. vol 21. No 2. December 2006
A look at the connection between this tunes two titles and a place-name in Ross and Cromarty. pub... more A look at the connection between this tunes two titles and a place-name in Ross and Cromarty. pub Altpibroch (Dec 2016).
The earliest contract for a Highland Piper that specifies his actual duties. pub. Piping Times. V... more The earliest contract for a Highland Piper that specifies his actual duties. pub. Piping Times. Vol. 68. No. 9. (June 2016)
A look at the evidence for piping on the Island of Mull. pub in the Piping Times. Vol 42. No 9. (... more A look at the evidence for piping on the Island of Mull. pub in the Piping Times. Vol 42. No 9. (June 1990).
A survey of the interaction of the native instruments like the Clarsach with new instruments usua... more A survey of the interaction of the native instruments like the Clarsach with new instruments usually introduced via the Royal Court
Tracing a family who started as harpers but over the generations changed instruments to instead p... more Tracing a family who started as harpers but over the generations changed instruments to instead play the lute.
A comparison of the comments on the 'Bards' sent by Prof Garden of Aberdeen to the English antiqu... more A comparison of the comments on the 'Bards' sent by Prof Garden of Aberdeen to the English antiquarian John Aubrey in 1692 when set against the evidence of the contemporary early 17th century accounts.
Foreword 1. Myth and Magic: The Harp in Legend and Song 2. Shapes and Stones: The Earliest Archae... more Foreword 1. Myth and Magic: The Harp in Legend and Song 2. Shapes and Stones: The Earliest Archaeological Evidence 3. Clarsach and Cruit: Early Literary References and Nomenclature in Gaelic Areas 4. Harp and Carp: Early Literary References in Non-Gaelic Areas 5. Harps of Their Owne Sorte: Descriptions of Surviving Instruments 6. Fiction and Facts: The History of the Three Old Harps Examined 7. Court and Courtiers: The Harp at the Royal Court in Scotland 8. The Scots Lairds: The Harp in Non-Gaelic Areas 9. Irish Interplay: Irish Travelling Harpers and Musical Connections 10. Highland Harpers: Highland Clans and Their Harping Connections 11. Rory Dall Morrison and His Contemporaries: Three Harpers of the Mid 17th and 18th Centuries 12. The Atholl Connection: Perthshire as a Centre of Harping Activity 13. Fading Echoes: The Decline of the Harp in the Highlands 14. Puirt, Uirt and Orgain: The Music of the Harps 15. Classic Revival: The Harp in 19th-Century Scotland 16. A Harp New-Strung: The Harp in the 20th-Century. Appendices.
The conundrum of the title refers to the problem of reconciling an authentic repertoire for thos... more The conundrum of the title refers to the problem of reconciling an authentic repertoire for those wishing to use replicas of the three early wire strung harps, with what little real evidence exists. Since as in any such exercise the foundations of any evidence base needs to be solid; this critical analysis examines how firm that foundation, based mostly on a few interlinked modern published works, really is. This also includes a fresh evaluation of an apocryphal story from the harper Arthur O’Neill’s memoir noted down circa 1808, which formed part of that evidence, by expanding on the brief discussion in an addendum to the article Mapping the Clarsach in Scotland https://www.wirestrungharp.com/harps/harpers/mapping-clarsach/
Edition, translation and analysis of a previously unpublished and unexamined entry to 1784 Highla... more Edition, translation and analysis of a previously unpublished and unexamined entry to 1784 Highland Society competition.
The likely historical event which led to the piobaireachd called The Piper's Warning. First publi... more The likely historical event which led to the piobaireachd called The Piper's Warning. First published in the Piping Times. Volume 61. Number 5. (February 2009)
A new look at the historical background to the origins of the instrument now known as the Lamont ... more A new look at the historical background to the origins of the instrument now known as the Lamont Harp and the connections to the Robertson Family of Lude in an attempt to reconcile the physical instrument to the contemporary evidence surrounding Lude and it's owners. Due to multiple footnotes the version with 'active numbering' may be easier to read. http://www.wirestrungharp.com/harps/historic/lamont_harp_history.html
A look at the pre 1650 distribution of players of the clarsach in Scotland and how that compares ... more A look at the pre 1650 distribution of players of the clarsach in Scotland and how that compares with the embryonic development of 'Highland Piping'.
Two linked articles, 'Travels of a gentleman piper' The diary of his journey by George Skene in ... more Two linked articles, 'Travels of a gentleman piper' The diary of his journey by George Skene in 1729. (Common Stock. vol 4. No 1. January 1989) and 'Skene's diary: a postscript' (Common Stock. vol 21. No 2. December 2006
A look at the connection between this tunes two titles and a place-name in Ross and Cromarty. pub... more A look at the connection between this tunes two titles and a place-name in Ross and Cromarty. pub Altpibroch (Dec 2016).
The earliest contract for a Highland Piper that specifies his actual duties. pub. Piping Times. V... more The earliest contract for a Highland Piper that specifies his actual duties. pub. Piping Times. Vol. 68. No. 9. (June 2016)
A look at the evidence for piping on the Island of Mull. pub in the Piping Times. Vol 42. No 9. (... more A look at the evidence for piping on the Island of Mull. pub in the Piping Times. Vol 42. No 9. (June 1990).
A look at the evolution of modern 'Highland Piping'. Given at the Piobaireachd Society Conference... more A look at the evolution of modern 'Highland Piping'. Given at the Piobaireachd Society Conference, Birnam, Dunkeld. 22 March 2015
The back ground to Duncan Ban MacIntyre's time in the Breadalbane Fencible Regiment. Presented at... more The back ground to Duncan Ban MacIntyre's time in the Breadalbane Fencible Regiment. Presented at Saoghal(an) Dhonnchaidh Bhain- The World(s) 0f Donnchadh Ban. A conference to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Donnchadh Ban Mac an t-Saoir (1724 - 1812) . University of Edinburgh. 14 July 2012.
The background to the MacLean Clephane Manuscript Harp Tunes. Given at the Irish Harp School in K... more The background to the MacLean Clephane Manuscript Harp Tunes. Given at the Irish Harp School in Kilkenny. August 2007
Myth and Mist: The early history of the Harp in Scotland. Given at the 24th Edinburgh Internation... more Myth and Mist: The early history of the Harp in Scotland. Given at the 24th Edinburgh International Harp Festival. 5th April 2005.
An exploration of the history of the Scottish harps viewed in their historical setting when the geographical boundaries of 'Scotland' were considerably more elastic than today.
West Highland Notes and Queries Series 5. 11, 2024
A review of two books, David Byers, Gatherings of Irish Harpers 1780-1840' (2022) and Helen Lawlo... more A review of two books, David Byers, Gatherings of Irish Harpers 1780-1840' (2022) and Helen Lawlor and Sandra Joyce, eds. 'Harp Studies II (2024).
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Papers by Keith Sanger
Due to multiple footnotes the version with 'active numbering' may be easier to read. http://www.wirestrungharp.com/harps/historic/lamont_harp_history.html
http://www.wirestrungharp.com/harps/harpers/mapping-clarsach.html
http://www.altpibroch.com/learning/piobaireachd-cheann-deas-the-earl-of-ross-march/
Due to multiple footnotes the version with 'active numbering' may be easier to read. http://www.wirestrungharp.com/harps/historic/lamont_harp_history.html
http://www.wirestrungharp.com/harps/harpers/mapping-clarsach.html
http://www.altpibroch.com/learning/piobaireachd-cheann-deas-the-earl-of-ross-march/
An exploration of the history of the Scottish harps viewed in their historical setting when the geographical boundaries of 'Scotland' were considerably more elastic than today.