Treble, tenor and bass
Chapter 11 of Sgáthán an Chrábhaidh presents the mainstream Western musical terms
Discaint/Triple, Contraténor, Ténor and Bassus in slightly Gaelicised form for the benefit
of poorly educated Irish readers with explanatory commentary. Chapter 12 presents
treble, tenor and bass in alternative terms: cantus planus, contra punctum and 'organ'.
The fact that Ó Maolchonaire uses the Latin terms and does not present any native
Gaelic equivalents for commentary might mean that no native terms were used for motet
singing. The importation of foreign musical terms in tandem with foreign musical forms is
as normal in Gaelic culture as in the rest of Europe.
Ó Maolchonaire also uses an Irish phrase which signifies the forming of conchordance:
the verbal noun 'coimhtheacht ré chéile' (convening together). He apparently uses the
word 'pong' here to represent the musical 'part', as in the phrase 'four part harmony'.
This is pertinent to discussion of the precise meaning of the harping term 'malairt phonc'
(exchange of 'points').
'Orgán', a very old term, is not given in the latin form 'organum', presumably because it
was a latin word which had been well assimilated into the Irish language. It is doubtless
the word which appears in the Gaelic musical triad 'port, cor is organ'. 'Cantus planus' is
also a very old term but did not gain the same currency as 'organ' and requires a
translation here. The term 'contra punctum' dates from the early 14th century.
... Do gníthear an channtuireacht dá
ngoirthear cantus planus, .i.
canntuireacht réidh shimplidhe, as
fundáimeint don uile channtaireacht
eile, leis an ccéadphongc, dár ab ainm
an Toil Mhaith.
Do gníthear an channtaireacht dá
ngoirthear contra punctum, .i. a
n-aghaigh phuingc, leis an dara & leis
an treas pongc, dá ngoirthear an Umhla
& an Fhoighidi, ór bídh an Umhlacht &
an Fhoighide a n-aghuidh ar ttoile
nádúrtha féin, leis nách áil annró ná
tarcuisne an tshaoghuil-si.
Do gníthear leis an cceathramhadh
pongc, .i. Déshearc, canntuireachd
orgán, maille ré ceól roi-bhinn
ro-thaighiúir an anma & an Spioruid
Naoimh ag coimhtheacht ré chéile.
Agas tabhair dot aire, dá ccaille nó dá
léige amugha do phungc, greamughadh
go maith don channtaireacht réidh;
& gé go ccaillfithea tuin na bpungc eile,
maille ré congnamh an Tighearna,
tabhair th'aire d'fhear do cheartuighthe,
.i. don tí as áirde iná thú, & do bhéara
thú arís leis an ccéadphungc go riaghuil
na deighbheathadh & go toil tuin na
naoimhionmhuine. ...
... The chanting called cantus
planus, ie, plain, simple chanting,
which is foundation to all other
chanting, is done by the first part [lit.
point] named Good Will.
The chanting called contra punctum,
ie, against part, is done by the
second and third part, called
Humility and Patience, for Humility &
Patience are against our natural self
will, which dislikes the misery or
scorn of this world.
The chanting of organum is done
by the fourth part, ie, Divine Love [a
translation of the Charity concept],
with the sweetest, most melodious
singing of the soul and of the Holy
Spirit harmonising with each other.
And take care, should you lose your
place in the part, to hold fast to the
plain chanting
and if you lose the tune of the other
parts, with the Lord's assistance
observe your corrector, ie, the one
higher than you, so that you are
taken again by the first part to the
rule of the good life and to the will of
the tune of the Holy Beloved. ...
Sgáthán an Chrábhaidh, pp222-223