A Musical Presentation for Primary School Children

'Lyre to Laptop'

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A Musical Presentation for Primary School Children

Sabine, Kevin & Dick Glasgow with students at the History Park

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Sabine and Dick Glasgow as 'Mandragora', have been providing Musical Presentations on the History of Musical Instruments in Ulster, for a number of years now.

Although primarily designed for Primary School Children, we have given this presentation to school audiences of all ages and to adult groups too, including Arts Groups & Historical Societies.

The presentation involves ourselves, dressed in authentic Medieval Costume, describing & demonstrating the development of folk instruments over the centuries in Ulster, using a wide variety of musical instruments.

The presentation is totally flexible and also looks at, to a greater or lesser degree depending on the clients requirements, how Ulster's neighbours, in particular in Scotland & the rest of Ireland, but also further afield in Britain and also Europe, influenced our musical cultural development here, with both music and instruments. This aspect can be of great benefit in the area of Cross-Community Relations. 

During the course of the inter-active presentation, a wide variety of instruments are played, to demonstrate development and structure.

For example, from a simple Pipe like the Shawm in the C9th, through the various stages of the development of the Bagpipe family, from the addition of Bag, and later Bellows, to the modern day Highland Pipes and Uilleann Pipes. 

Similar development of stringed instruments are shown, from: the simple Mouth Bow through Psaltery & Hammered  Dulcimer to Piano; the Lyre through Wire Strung Harp, to Gut Strung Clarsach; the Medieval (Memling) Fiddle through Renaissance Viol to the modern day Violin; and the simplest drum like the Bodhran through Long Drums to the Lambeg are shown, and the various instruments are played.

As well as the Instruments, many forms of the Traditional Music of Ulster are presented and compared, to demonstrate the rich diversity of form & style which exists within Ulster. To explore this subject, we look at and play examples, to demonstrate some of the common musical ground that lies between the typical Traditional Music of Scotland and Irish Traditional Music and how these have affected & influenced the music of traditional musicians here in Northern Ireland.

Dick during a School presentation. 

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