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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(2)
The Warblers are heard in the Grove,
The Linnet, the Lark and the Thrush, The Black-bird, and sweet cooing Dove, With Musick enchant ev'ry Bush. Come let us go forth to the Mead, Let us see how the Primroses spring, We'll lodge in some Village on Tweed, And love while the feather'd Folks sing. |
(3)
How does my Love pass the long Day?
Does Mary not tend a few Sheep? Do they never carelessly stray, While happily she lyes asleep? Tweed's Murmurs should lull her to Rest, Kind Nature indulging my Bliss, To relieve the soft Pains of my Breast, I'd steal an ambrosial Kiss. |
(4)
'Tis she does the Virgins excell,
No Beauty with her may compare, Loves Graces all round her do dwell, She's fairest where thousands are fair. Say, Charmer, where do thy Flocks stray? Oh! tell me at Noon where they feed; Shall I seek them on sweet winding Tay, Or the pleasanter Banks of the Tweed. |