there's got to be a story there

[cellio]

Turlough O'Carolan was a 17th-century harper who wrote some gorgeous music that is often recorded by modern folk musicians. (In addition to the obvious harp, the hammer dulcimer is also well-suited for his music.) Many of his songs are named after people, presumably patrons -- Planxty George Brabazon, Planxty Eleanor Plunkett, Blind Mary, and many others. One of his songs is usually listed as "Squire Wood's Lamentation".

The complete name of this last is actually "Squire Wood's Lamentation on the Refusal of his Half-Pence". My Google-fu has not yet led me to the story behind this. There's got to be one, right? It would be a shame if it went to the grave three centuries ago. What was he trying to buy that was worthy of commemoration?

Comments

[cellio]

Interesting! Thank you. (I skipped right on past YouTube because I wasn't looking for a performance of the piece; it didn't occur to me that there might be comments.)

This also solves the nagging grammar issue -- I didn't understand why the title was "pence" rather than "penny" if he was making a small transaction (and why would you record a larger transaction as multiple half-pence?). This clears that all up.

A token of love, perhaps?

[caryabend.livejournal.com]

I must be a hopeless romantic. I was so hoping for an explanation of what was so wondrous that that the offer of a half-pense for it was refused, but yet still deserved a lamentation!