Skene manuscript

National Library of Scotland ms adv.5.2.15

Date uncertain, sometimes dates as c.1615-1625, and sometimes as late as 1630. Written by, or for, John or William Skene of Hallyards, Lothian, this Scottish book of mandore (not mandora) tablature contains perhaps the earliest notated Gaelic harp tune, Port Ballangowne.

Published books

William Dauney
Ancient Scotish melodies
Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh (No. 59), 1838
This book contains a complete transcription into staff notation of the music in the Skene ms as well as a substantial discussion, notes and other musical examples. It has 46 pages of transcription and 1 page of facsimile tablature. Re-issued as a facsimile by AMS Press, New York, 1973
A facsimile of p.229 of Dauney's book, showing Port Ballangowne, is given in Sanger & Kinnaird, Tree of Strings, Kinmor 1992, p. 179; an online facsimile of the title page and the tablature page of Dauney's book is at Glasgow University.
Dauney's book is now available in its entirety at Google Books.
Simon Chadwick

Sources for Gaelic harp music

Skene manuscript

Published books