LAMENT IN G MINOR FOR STRING ORCHESTRA

Lament�s are specifically music written for the bagpipes and are performed in Scotland and Ireland on tragic occasions, however they are also found in the traditional music of many countries. In many instances each of the Scottish and Irish clans had their own Lament that was used at burials and other solemn occasions such as the departure of young men for war service and even the return and repatriation of dead war hero�s. They express grief usually at the loss of a friend or a famous person and could also be described as musical eulogies. They are also written for vocal and instrumental performance and a very good example in opera is Dido�s lament �When I am laid in earth� from Henry Purcell�s opera Dido and Aeneas.