GRACINGS
In his 1840 volume of the Ancient Music of Ireland, Edward Bunting presents some Irish
terminology for the gracings used on the Irish harp.
A number of these terms seem like Irish versions of names for gracings employed by viol
players in 17th century England. This indicates that several components of the Irish
terminology are not as uniquely Celtic as Bunting has suggested.
Below are several of the terms as given by Bunting, reinterpreted by being placed opposite
similar terms provided by Christopher Simpson in "The Division-Viol" of 1665.
The Irish term 'leagadh' might have been equivalent to the Welsh term 'crafiad' (scratch) and
the 'crafiad dwbl' (double scratch) is like a double backfall here. The 'leagadh anuas', as
presented by Bunting, is a kind of beat/rise but one wonders whether the ravages of time have
led to a misapplication of the Irish term.
Other terms itemised by Bunting include 'briseadh' (breaking) which, from the nature of the
ornament, seems a counterpart of the English term 'cut', which is a type of backfall here.
'Creathadh' (shaking) is an obvious equivalent of 'shake'. 'Sruth' (stream) might be an
idiomatic attempt to translate the English idea of a 'run' of notes. Interestingly, 'caslúth'
matches somewhat the Gregorian 'torculus' (twisted one) or 'pes flexis' (bent foot).
Other terms such as 'barrlúth' (tip-movement), 'aon mhéar' (one finger), 'comhmhéar'
(fellow-finger) and 'tríbhuilleach' (thrice-striking) are overtly descriptive in relation to the
operations of the gracings concerned. However it is the names for chordal fingerings in
Bunting which seem the least derivative.
The Division-Viol 1665
Beat/rise {bc}
Elevation {abc}
Backfall {cb}
Double backfall {cba}
Close shake
Open shake
Shaked elevation
Acute/springer {acb}
The Ancient Music of Ireland 1840
[Bualadh?/éirí? (beating/rise) {bc}]
Bualadh suas (beating up) / suaséirí (up-rise) {abc}
Leagadh / leithleagadh (lowering) {cb}
Leagadh anuas (lowering/knocking down) {cba?}
Barrlúth (tip-movement) {bcbcb?}
Barrlúth foscailte (open tip-movement) {bdbdb?}
Barrlúth bualadh in airde (tip-movement beating upwards) {bcbc}
Caslúth (steep/foot/coil-movement) {acb}