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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Let dorty Dames say Na,
As lang as e'er they please, Seem caulder then the Sna', While inwardly they bleez. But I will frankly shaw my Mind, And yield my Heart to thee; Be ever to the Captive kind, That langs na to be free. |
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At Polwart on the Green,
Amang the new mawn Hay, With Sangs and dancing keen; We'll pass the heartsome Day. At Night if Beds be o'er thrang laid, And thou be twin'd of thine, Thou shalt be welcome, my dear Lad, To take a Part of mine. |