England's National Musical-Instrument?

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 10:01 AM

If ye regulates everything, then who regulates the regulators? Who sets the rules?

The solution to worldwide famine? More food! See, its easy to come out with such ideas.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 09:58 AM

WAV, I think we can concede that you may be qualified to pontificate on manufacturing, anthropology and possibly backpacking. Having tried to read your poetry and listen to your music, it is painfully obvious that you are unqualified to pontificate on either.

As for your other views, if you are not prepared to debate or justify them (constantly repeating them or referencing your poetry is not sufficient) then you shouldn't expect us to take them seriously. It is your repeated failure to enter into debate, despite having academic qualifications which should have equipped you to do so, that disqualifies you.

It is good that you, as a fairly recent migrant, should be so keen to rediscover your roots. However your perceptions of the country and culture you have returned to are so mistaken as to be comical. I am reminded of the sketch in Goodness Gracious Me of the the Indian family who try too hard to be British.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 09:56 AM

And what position are you in to advocate anything?" (IB)...4 techinical certificates in manufacturing; a BA in Humanities, majoring in athropology; about 40 countries on a shoestring, etc....which led me to question all the exaggerated deregulation/laissez faire of the 90s onward, and promote REGULATIONISM in financial markets, immigration/emigration, club-football, etc. Yes - REGULATIONISM - a word suddenly in the headlines...and, of all the ISMS, the best way forward for humanity, along with the kind of nationalism I've defined on Mudcat and here.
But, if you just can't listen to me, here's William Shakespeare, from Measure for Measure: "Liberty, as surfeit, is the father of much fast."

Please explain in greater detail what you mean by regulationism. Redefine nationalism, how you see it, please.
As someone with a degree, you oght to know that debate is only possible when terms have been defined.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Joe P
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 09:43 AM

How about REGULATION of provocative posts on mudcat, such as those promoting racist immigration policies and cultural segregation?

Either that or we should regulate the folk music of today, all this creativity is just not on.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 09:27 AM

IB: when I'm watching TV I often practise muted scales on my pocket trumpet

Never heard it called that before...

Ralphie - to be fair, there has been some good & knowledgeable discussion on this thread. However, WAV has posted five comments in the last 24 hours, none of which had any reference to music. Unless the thread gets back on track (perhaps by other posters ignoring WAV's endless provocations), I'd say it's heading for BS-land.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 08:55 AM

Maybe like the other WAV thread re 5000 Morris dancers, This one should be sent below the line.
Indeed probably all threads started by WAV should suffer the same fate.
A decision for the moderators, methinks

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 08:10 AM

"And what position are you in to advocate anything?" (IB)...4 techinical certificates in manufacturing; a BA in Humanities, majoring in athropology; about 40 countries on a shoestring, etc....which led me to question all the exaggerated deregulation/laissez faire of the 90s onward, and promote REGULATIONISM in financial markets, immigration/emigration, club-football, etc. Yes - REGULATIONISM - a word suddenly in the headlines...and, of all the ISMS, the best way forward for humanity, along with the kind of nationalism I've defined on Mudcat and here.
But, if you just can't listen to me, here's William Shakespeare, from Measure for Measure: "Liberty, as surfeit, is the father of much fast."

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 05:46 AM

In the 17th Century the cornett (the treble version of the serpent)was considered to be the English speciality.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:37 AM

hummelschen (a small quiet bagpipe)

Whatever happened to that? Gone the way of the small quiet accordion, I suppose, along with the thunder of the contra-bass tabor and the mighty roar of the battle-flute. Eheu.

cow-bell, door-bell, bicycle bell, church bell, ships bell, Lloyd's bell, dinner bell, desk bell, school bell, death bell, cat bell, falcon bell, Morris bell...

I've probably quoted this before, but John Hegley's lines on Englishness sum it up quite nicely:

I like bells in church towers
And bells below the knee
I like Morris dancing
And I like Morrissey

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:27 AM

Thanks, Paws - I appreciate the picture is always going to be more complicated than otherwise assumed, but, whatever the case, indigenous they certainly aren't.

And, for both Paws ad WLD - England's National Musical instrument is The Bell; not sure what sort of bell - cow-bell, door-bell, bicycle bell, church bell, ships bell, Lloyd's bell, dinner bell, desk bell, school bell, death bell, cat bell, falcon bell, Morris bell...

I'm off. Life's too short.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:06 AM

"In Northumbria for example, where the aristocratic French Musette (itself derived, supposedly, from folk prototypes in Brittany) was adopted by certain the native musicians to become the Northumbrian Smallpipe," (IB)

No, sorry. The likelihood is that hummelschen (a small quiet bagpipe)played in the low countries in the C16/17 were brought back by mercenary soldiers, and became the basic nsp. These were then developed over 200 years (with nods in the direction of the musette and lots over other influences) to become modern nsp.

They're not a national instrument. They're a regional one. I don't think there is a national one.

Paws

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 03:01 AM

what the hell IS all this about?

Of course we haven't get a national instrument. Otherwise we'd all know about it.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 08:36 PM

"good for humanity as alternatives to imperialism and economic/capitalist immigration/emigration...as ways of reducing the rotten inequality in the world and keeping it nice and multicultural, plus more peaceful, etc."

BUT HOW????? Please specify. The devil is the details.
Have you ever considered a carreer in the Communist party? They love slogans.


": Were the English ever renowned for their playing of a particular instrument?

Some were. Nicolson was the world's superstar on the flute in his time. John Bull was probably the best keyboard player of his time. Dowland was one of Europe's best lutenists."

Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page on electric guitar spring to mind (as do dozens upon dozens of others).....

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 07:56 PM

IB - these days, you reduce almost anything I post to "racist rheroric", probably partly in hope that others will follow suit: there IS a difference between racism and questioning immigration/the kind of nationalism and regulationism I advocate/caring about one's own culture. Also, there's what we want and the tactics we are prepared to use...please mind yours.

Unlike you, WAV, my tactics do not involve the promotion & publication of an ideology with has been proven beyond any shadow of a doubt to amount to a retarded racist diatribe. I am not trying garner support here - people can, and people do, figure it out for themselves. There is no difference between racism and questioning immigration whilst simultaneously advocating nationalism and caring for one's own culture as a highly selective and grossly distorted version of same according to your racially exclusive maxims on what may, or may not, constitute Englishness. That you believe this Englishness is under threat as the consequence of immigration is but further proof of your racism; also, that you believe England was a more English place 50 years ago.

And what position are you in to advocate anything? Get things in perspective here, WAV; the most any of us can ever do is to simply get on with our lives in the hope that by doing so we might enable others to do likewise. Too many grand schemes, WAV - too many big notions which bypass any sort reality I'm familiar with. I don't know how you've managed it, but you've got your head stuck up your arse and in the clouds at the same time - your life's work indeed.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 06:36 PM

: Were the English ever renowned for their playing of a particular instrument?

Some were. Nicolson was the world's superstar on the flute in his time. John Bull was probably the best keyboard player of his time. Dowland was one of Europe's best lutenists.

> There isn't THAT much difference between different pipes, regionally.
> The most significant differences are in pumps versus lungs.

Nope. The choice of mouth or bellows power doesn't affect the sound, technique or design much. There are two basically different designs of bagpipe, which diverged very early on. Probably the older one is the type with two equal or very similar chanters and no drones, like the Black Sea tulum, Dalmatian bagpipe or North African mezaoued. The other type has one chanter and at least one drone, like the Scottish Highland pipe, Northumbrian pipes or Bulgarian gaida. The double-chanter one is for the most part geographically south of the single-chanter one. No culture has traditionally used both types.

There is one place where they converge, the Cornish pipe that Julian Goodacre has reconstructed - it's a twin-bore chanter but made as large as a typical single-chanter pipe.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 05:45 PM

This thread is no longer about England's national musical instrument. In fact it's no longer about music, and should either stop or move below the line.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 05:36 PM

Sorry, I thought I'd seen you struggle with links on another thread...but, either way, we're both apples with both links and italics now. "Now, do answer. HOW is nationalism with eco-travel and fair-trade good for humanity" (Volgadon)...good for humanity as alternatives to imperialism and economic/capitalist immigration/emigration...as ways of reducing the rotten inequality in the world and keeping it nice and multicultural, plus more peaceful, etc.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 05:23 PM

Links are just what?
I wasn't asking for help with links, but with italics.
Now, do answer. HOW is nationalism with eco-travel and fair-trade good for humanity.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 05:03 PM

SC - although it clearly wasn't for me, thanks: I've learned something this day.
Stu, apart from your ad nauseum use of the R-word, I quite like that "buxom" picture you paint.
Also for Volgadon - links are just: click on the "Make a link" link, then type in or copy/paste the full (with http://www.) URL to the top space, and the letters you wish as a link in the space below.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 04:40 PM

Ooops, sweaty fingers. Should rally stop reading WAV's nonsense threads - I only do it to read the other people who join in.

Volgadon, you want < i > without the gaps at the start of the sentence and < / i > without the gaps at the end. Had to add the gaps or it would have been:

Volgadon, you want without the gaps at the start of the sentence and without the gaps at the end. Had to add the gaps or it would have been:

Which would have been neither arse nor feather nor hole in the ground.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: s&r
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 04:27 PM

For me WAV the part of your rhetoric that smacks of racism is your bizarre belief in a purity of some imaginary English nation of some fifty years or so ago. Or perhaps even longer ago when buxom wenches served pints of English ale in flagons to the tune of the local barber playing he cittern (because of course serving ale is OK: serving tennis balls is not)

Stu

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 02:55 PM

You haven't explained HOW nationalism with eco-travel and fair-trade is good for humanity.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 02:49 PM

IB - these days, you reduce almost anything I post to "racist rheroric", probably partly in hope that others will follow suit: there IS a difference between racism and questioning immigration/the kind of nationalism and regulationism I advocate/caring about one's own culture. Also, there's what we want and the tactics we are prepared to use...please mind yours.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 01:23 PM

You haven't <> (sorry, have no idea how to do italics) HOW nationalism with eco-travel and fair-trade is good for humanity.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 01:15 PM

So you say, WAV - and so you keep saying, yes, indeed, ad infinitum, along with all your other specious nonsensical and racist rhetoric no doubt in the rather fascistic hope that if you say something often enough it will eventually become true. True for you maybe, but not true for me or anyone else for that matter - so why bother? Just enjoy the music and enough of the bollocks ideology already.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 12:21 PM

Re: "cranky nationalistic conclusions" (IB)...as I've said here, and ad infinitum on mudcat, nationalism with conquest IS bad; but nationalism with eco-travel and fair-trade, via a stonger UN, is good for humanity.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 08:14 AM

I don't know IB, but I do know that you yourself just referred to "Indian bagpipes"...surely it's a good thing that there are now different pipes/earthy sounds from different nations..?

Just one nation, WAV - the Bagpipe Nation as I say, which stretches from North Africa to Scotland and all points in between & often beyond. Culturally diverse, but unified with respect to this particular innovation which originated, as with so many things, in the Arabic world with the reed-pipes and shawms that by some other route of organological evolution became the orchestral clarinet and oboe respectively. The shawms & pipes still exist in diverse & innumerable variations (please note this with respect to the last line of #96 of your poems) pretty much unchanged; my brother brings me idioglottal cane reed-pipes made and sold by children on the streets of Damascus. Part of the traditional way of playing them is circular breathing, which at some point 2000 years ago suggested the use of a bag.

How this then manifests itself into the various types of bagpipe is largely a matter of applied technology with respect to the cultural software of where such things at last fetch up. In Northumbria for example, where the aristocratic French Musette (itself derived, supposedly, from folk prototypes in Brittany) was adopted by certain the native musicians to become the Northumbrian Smallpipe, which further interfaces with the Highland Pipe to create the various Border hybrids, cauld-winds & half-longs we know today.

Different pipes & earthy sounds indeed, but inside the drones of the Scottish babpipe is the same idioglottal cane reed that could be found in Ancient Egyptian reed pipes 4000 years ago; which is identical to that being made by kids on the streets of Damascus today, with or without the bag, or balloon, or bladder, which in many cases is optional.

The facts are there to be enjoyed, WAV - studied & pondered over not to be bent out of shape to fit your cranky nationalistic conclusions.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Fidjit
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 07:08 AM

Cannons

The ones of war

Seem as if I can still hear them roaring.

Been popular all of my lifetime so far.

Chas

PS. But being also electrically connected (Whoops! Touch of sparks there)my vote also goes for Wheatstone,s concertina.

C.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 07:02 AM

I think he meant bagpipes made in India. There isn't THAT much difference between different pipes, regionally. The most significant differences are in pumps versus lungs.
Pipes are very popular among Arabs, both in in the Levant and Egypt. Pipes were used traditionally until the end of the 18th century, when they nearly died out. British influence brought in the Scottish greatpipes, which are now an integral part of village weddings in Egypt. I remember going to Nazareth for the Christmas parade as a child and hearing the Arab pipe bands playing local tunes and Christmas songs. Later, when I was in the army, I heard an Arab practising one late at night, not far from the base.
Primitive pipes, often made from sheep bladders, are still in use among Kurds, or were, until just recently.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 06:39 AM

I don't know IB, but I do know that you yourself just referred to "Indian bagpipes"...surely it's a good thing that there are now different pipes/earthy sounds from different nations..?

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 03:14 PM

So what is the nation of origin of the bagpipe, WAV? And should we perhaps send them all back there?

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 02:44 PM

"One might draw a map of a Bagpipe Nation - one that stretches from North Africa to Scotland, and all points between & often beyond; one that transcends national boundaries, and one that flies in the face of any notion of Nationalism, despite the role that certain species of bagpipes have to that cause in certain countries. Bagpipes are essentially a migratory species; in the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum in Northumberland, there is a set of Indian bagpipes lovingly carved from ivory" (IB)...they do have a map at that good museum, which shows the various bagpipes of the world, WITHIN their nation of origin.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 02:23 PM

The electric guitar.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 11:41 AM

the evidence is there that bagpipes were around in England at least 500 years ago.

I think you'll find they were around a lot earlier than that, Jim - hence my link to the Hexham Abbey double bagpiper which is 500 years old at least. There's bagpipers in The Luttrell Psalter, from 700 years ago, and earlier ones too. However, as to what sort of bagpipes they might have been, or what sort of music was being played on them, no one can say with any degree of certainty - which doesn't stop us making a few educated guesses and even having a bash at reconstruction.

My objection is to the Goodacre Leicestershire Bagpipe being included in a list of National and Indigenous Musical Instruments when it was only invented some 20 years ago. Likewise the other Goodacre innovations, however so based on whatever ancient iconography, they remain entirely hypothetical, but no less valid as the fine modern instruments they undoubtedly are.

One might draw a map of a Bagpipe Nation - one that stretches from North Africa to Scotland, and all points between & often beyond; one that transcends national boundaries, and one that flies in the face of any notion of Nationalism, despite the role that certain species of bagpipes have to that cause in certain countries. Bagpipes are essentially a migratory species; in the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum in Northumberland, there is a set of Indian bagpipes lovingly carved from ivory; and one hears of Indian classical musicians adopting the regimental Highland Pipes on which to play ragas.

I applaud Julian Goodacre's instruments, and I've got my eye on a set or two myself, but in the cause of a love of music, and humanity, and most certainly not the nationalist cause that began this thread.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 10:56 AM

'Insane Beard' - I understand that Julian Goodacre's bagpipes are innovations, but the evidence is there that bagpipes were around in England at least 500 years ago.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 10:06 AM

I'm sure many Englsih toddlers were playing on the linoleum as soon as they could crawl...


RtS
(I'll get me romper suit)

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 05:25 PM

Julian Acre? That should be Julian Goodacre of course!

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 04:25 PM

The Hexham Abbey Double Bagpipes

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 03:35 PM

As with the Leicestershire Bagpipes, all these bagpipes are Julian Acre's innovations based on various iconographical evidences and, as such, they are entirely non-traditional & hypothetical - but bloody excellent modern (Scottish?) bagpipes all the same.

In this respect I am presently working on The English (or Luttrell) Hurdy-Gurdy based on the hitherto called impossible hurdy-gurdy found in the margins of The Luttrell Psalter.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 12:15 PM

Thanks, Jim - I'd heard of all but the last two double-pipes on your list.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 11:56 AM

http://www.goodbagpipes.co.uk/englishindex.htm

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 11:55 AM

Bagpipes (early 16th century):

http://www.goodbagpipes.co.uk/englishindex.htm

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 02:49 PM

Just been revelling in Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity's uniquely Engish take on Wheel's On Fire prior to Batman on BBC4, and noticed, as I suppose I never have before, that the whole thing is drenches & dripping in delicious Mellotron. Well, if we're including the Stylophone (at my insistence I might add!) then the Mellotron has got to be in there too.

What would English music be without it? Wheel's On Fire notwithstanding, there's - The Moody Blues Nights in White Satin, King Crimson's Epitaph, Joy Division's Closer album, Matching Mole's eponymous first album and - countless, countless others, exploiting this uniquely sounding & most English sounding of all English musical instruments making some of the most uniquely English of all English Music, like - er - Hero & Heroine by Strawbs anyone?

That last one's the closest I think of a Mellotron in a folkish context by the way, but I'm not so well up on such things so if anyone's got any other examples, hoik 'em on.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 02:52 PM

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.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 19 Apr 08 - 05:30 AM

A couple of years ago, there was a period "reality" TV series where a group of historians lived on a farm - as of the 17th century. And, on one episode, a period musician made a visit with, from memory, a crumhorn, pipe a tabor, mouth-blown Leistershire bagpipes, and an English cittern with 5 times 2 wire strings - plucked with a (plucked?!) feather-plectrum. So my hunch is that they were used, a lot apparently, in barber-shops and taverns, to accompany songs with just the top-line melody with, perhaps, some embellishment of it. But, if for centuries E. trads were sung unaccompanied, what were these songs?...early "barber-shop songs"?..folk-come-art songs?...and who is performing them now?...

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 11:23 AM

There are plenty of brass bands outside mining communities. In my youth one of the top bands was the GUS Footwear Band, then there were the CWS Band (a tobacco factory), Black Dyke Mills, Fairey Aviation and the Brighouse and Rastrick band was a temperance band. There are also Silver Bands which are brass bands that can afford more Duraglit. We had one in Bethnal Green (not in the North at all).
Oh, and then there's the Sally Ann..

Here's a link: http://www.harrogateband.org/ibew.htm

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 10:55 AM

I wouldnt say Brass can be linked with the English national culture as a whole - the tradition, as I understand it is linked strongly to the mining communities of the North which is a culture of its own which happens to be in England.

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 10:46 AM

That's on the new list...and mind if I call you GeorgianBRASS, from now on?!

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 10:42 AM

Still say that it has to be 'Brass'

Subject: RE: England's National Musical-Instrument?
From: GUEST,WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 10:15 AM

"I believe that no single instrument could represent the English nation and its rich and varied past (and present!)" - here we do agree, Joe (I think?!)...I genuinely did not know England's national musical-instrument, but did refer, at the very top, to my list of "INSTRUMENTS OF (OR CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH) ENGLAND"...to which I've added BELLS and a couple of others, via this discussion.