SANG SCHOOLS.

Patea Mail, 2 June 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

SANG SCHOOLS.

The Sang School is an old Scottish institution, dating from the 13th century. A “ scule ” for teaching singing existed in almost every one of the cathedral cities in Scotland, and in many of the smaller towns, such as Ayr, Dumbarton, Lanark, Cupar, and Irvine. Even in the far north in 1544 Bishop Eeid founded and endowed a “ Sang School” in Orkney. Prior to the Deformation, the teaching in these schools was principally confined to “musick, meaners, and vertu,” but at a later date it extended to the proverbial “ three D’s.” Music, however, seems to have been the chief course of instruction, and the original idea of confining its study to the cathedral singers was so far enlarged, that laymen were admitted to the schools, in which the Gregorian chant had naturally an early and important place. The master of the school was held in high esteem, and was occasionally selected from the clergy, the appointment at times leading to important preferment; thus, John Hay, master of the Old Aberdeen School in 1658, was made Bishop of Moray ; and John Leslie, Bishop of Boss, was once a teacher in the Aberdeen School.

Great attention seems to have been paid by the Parliament o£ the day to the study of music, for a statute was passed in 1574 “instructing the provosts, baillies, and counsale, to sett up ane sang scuille for instruction of the youth in the art of musick and singing, quhilk is almaist decayit and sail schortly decay without tymous reraeid be providit.” Comparatively little interest seems to have attended either the Edinburgh or Glasgow schools,- and from a minute of the Town Council of the latter we gather that the institution collapsed in 1588, “ the scuile sumtyme callit the sang scuile” being sold to defray the expenses incidental to the heavy visitation of a plague. The Aberdeen School appears to have been the one of chief celebrity, attracting teachers of even Continental fame, and the burgh records contain references of a curious and amusing description. The school existed so early as tho year 1370, its doss of pupils being the same as those attending the grammar school. Both vocal and instrumental music were taught, as we learn from the title of Forbes’s scarce work, “ Cantus, Songs, and Fancies both apt for Yoiccs [and Viols as is taught in the Music School of Aberdeen ” (1662). About this period, Mace, in his “ Musick’s Monument,” directed tho attention of his countrymen to tho sang school of Scotland as an institution well worthy of imitation south of the Tweed.

The stipend of the master of the Edinburgh sang school appears to have been the modest allowance of £lO in sterling money. It may be worth mentioning that the buildingin Aberdeen so long identified with the music interests of the day was sold in 1758, and those acquainted with the Granite City may also bo interested in knowing the site of the sang school —a feu near the churchyard wall in the Back Wynd. An attempt was recently made to form a connecting link with the past in the shape of a proposed revival ot the sang school. The promoter of the movement purchased a hall, which received the name of “ Song School,” but he has not been encouraged to carry his spirited scheme to a successful issue.— J. T. Ityfo, in Music and Musicians.