Greg Stephens: I said there were Irish and Scottish styles (plural, -I wasn't meaning one of each, and that I wasn't convinced that there was an English style pre-Swarby. OK, I'm open to being convinced on this point. Re-reading the comment after your 'shooting me down in flames', as I predicted somebody would, I see how my use of the phrase 'an English style' was a bit misleading.
Were the English ever renowned for their playing of a particular instrument? The Irish harpers of the middle ages were. (And incidentally, regarding the harp, the ancient Egyptian (and other) harps did not have the front pillar. The 'triangular' harp - i.e. having the soundbox, wrest plank and front pillar - is reckoned to be a celtic - possibly Irish - development, just as the Highland pipes are a Scottish development.) England may be known for its Brass Band tradition, and for its Change-ringing, but that doesn't necessarily mean that individual brass players or bell ringers are particularay virtuosic. This does not necessarily rule out these traditions as being representative, of course. I was just ruminating. (All right - waffling).
John Kelly.