What can a bagpipe, a fiddle or a harpsichord tell us about national culture and identity? Each country has a different story to tell, and Scotlands story has not yet been told. This book traces the cultural and social history of musical instruments in Scotland.
What can a bagpipe, a fiddle or a harpsichord tell us about national culture and identity? Each country has a different story to tell, and Scotlands story has not yet been told. This book traces the cultural and social history of musical instruments in Scotland. Each chapter focuses on a different instrument, discussing its appearance in literature and art, its presence or rendition in music, and its organological development. There are clear links with the historical, socio-cultural, political, even religious milieux of the nation, as the book addresses such questions as Why was bagpipe music considered anti-Christian? Why were genteel ladies for centuries not depicted playing the flute? and What is the BBCs role in promoting Scottish fiddle music?This book is the first authoritative source to provide a deep understanding of the cultural history of instruments which have had, and often still have, great societal impact in Scotland. It will interest a wide readership from enthusiasts of Scottish music to cultural historians, from art specialists to music collectors, from curators to university lecturers.
