Thomas Purcell of Loughmoe
Encyclopedia
Thomas Purcell, Baron of Loughmoe
(1538 – August 3, 1609) was an Irish
nobleman.
A member of a wealthy Tipperary
family, Thomas' greatest legacy is a harp
composition he commissioned to be played at his funeral. The lament was probably commissioned by Purcell for his impending death. According to harp historian Edward Bunting
, Purcell made his last will on 26 March 1597, John Scott
composed his lament in 1599, and the Baron died on 3 August 1607.
The correct Irish title for this piece would seem to be 'Cumha Bharúin Loch Mór' (the lament of/for the baron of Loughmore), a title which is found in Bunting manuscript 29 f111v as 'Cooee Vareen Lagh Moor', dictated, it would seem, from harper Denis O'Hampsey. However, the Irish for 'Baron of Lochmoe' appears to have been given in the Annals of the Four Masters as 'Barún Luachmaighi'.
The piece is titled 'Cumha Caoine an Albanaigh', or in English, 'Scott's Lamentation', in Bunting's 1840 publication, 'The Ancient Music of Ireland'. This incorrect Irish title seems a reverse translation of 'Scott's Lamentation' (i.e., Cumha an Albanaigh) with the word 'caoine' (lamenting) added duplicatively. This construction goes against Irish linguistic usage as the word 'cumha' (lament) should be followed by the name in the genitive case of the person the lament was made for (i.e., the baron of Loughmore) and not the composer (i.e., an tAlbanach, Scott) as per English; the composer should be indicated by the word 'le' (by), as per the phrase 'leis an Albanach' (by Scott).
Barons of Loughmoe
The title Baron of Loughmoe is a feudal barony located in northern County Tipperary, Ireland. The title was possibly raised to a Jacobite peerage in 1690 while James II was in exile, however, while the Marquis de Ruvigny notes this in his 'The Jacobite Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Grants of...
(1538 – August 3, 1609) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
nobleman.
A member of a wealthy Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
family, Thomas' greatest legacy is a harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
composition he commissioned to be played at his funeral. The lament was probably commissioned by Purcell for his impending death. According to harp historian Edward Bunting
Edward Bunting
Edward Bunting was an Irish musician and folk music collector.-Life:Bunting was born in County Armagh, Ireland. At the age of seven he was sent to study music at Drogheda and at eleven he was apprenticed to William Ware, organist at St. Anne's church in Belfast and lived with the family of Henry...
, Purcell made his last will on 26 March 1597, John Scott
John Scott
-Politicians:*John Scott , Member of the Australian House of Representatives*John Scott , first mayor of Bytown, later Ottawa*John Scott , MP for Caithness...
composed his lament in 1599, and the Baron died on 3 August 1607.
The correct Irish title for this piece would seem to be 'Cumha Bharúin Loch Mór' (the lament of/for the baron of Loughmore), a title which is found in Bunting manuscript 29 f111v as 'Cooee Vareen Lagh Moor', dictated, it would seem, from harper Denis O'Hampsey. However, the Irish for 'Baron of Lochmoe' appears to have been given in the Annals of the Four Masters as 'Barún Luachmaighi'.
The piece is titled 'Cumha Caoine an Albanaigh', or in English, 'Scott's Lamentation', in Bunting's 1840 publication, 'The Ancient Music of Ireland'. This incorrect Irish title seems a reverse translation of 'Scott's Lamentation' (i.e., Cumha an Albanaigh) with the word 'caoine' (lamenting) added duplicatively. This construction goes against Irish linguistic usage as the word 'cumha' (lament) should be followed by the name in the genitive case of the person the lament was made for (i.e., the baron of Loughmore) and not the composer (i.e., an tAlbanach, Scott) as per English; the composer should be indicated by the word 'le' (by), as per the phrase 'leis an Albanach' (by Scott).