Album Summary: William Thomson's Orpheus Caledonius (1725) was a landmark publication; the first ever large-scale collection of "Scotch Songs" in print — 50 songs arranged with un-figured bass, most with lyrics from Allan Ramsay's Scots Songs and Tea-Table Miscellany, plus an appendix of melodic reductions. It was an instant hit and in 1733, expanded into 2 volumes with 100 songs. Indeed, Thomson's Orpheus set the standard format for Scots Song settings for the rest of the eighteenth century, including those of Robert Burns in The Scots Musical Museum. This ScotMus.com album is a faithful reprint of the song arrangements from the historic 1st edition of 1725.
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Her Kisses sweet as spring,
Like Iune her Bosoms warm, The Autumn ne'er did bring, By half so sweet a Charm. As living Fountains do, Their favours ne'er repent, So Betty's Blessings grow, The more, the more they're lent. |
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Leave Kindred and Friends, sweet Betty
Leave Kindred and Friends for me; Assur'd thy Servant is steddy To Love, to Honour, and thee. The Gifts of Nature and Fortune, May fly, by Chance, as they came, They're Grounds the Destines sport on, But Virtue is ever the same. |
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Altho my Fancy were roving,
Thy Charms so heav'nly appear, That other Beauties disproving, I'd worship thine only, my Dear. And shou'd Lifes Sorrows embitter, The Pleasure we promis'd our Loves, To share them, together, is fitter Then moan, assunder, like Doves. |
(5)
Oh! were I but once so blessed,
To grasp my Love in my Arms! By thee to be grasp'd and kissed! And live on thy Heaven of Charms I'd laugh at Fortunes Caprices, Shou'd Fortune capricious prove, Tho Death shou'd tear me to Pieces, I'd die a Martyr to Love. |