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)
Methinks around us on each Bough,
A thousand Cupids play, Whilst thro' the Groves I walk with you, Each Object makes me gay: Since your Return the Sun and Moon With brighter Beams do shine, Streams murmur soft Notes while they run, As they did lang syne. |
(3)
Despise the Court and Din of State:
Let that to their Share fall, Who can esteem such Slav'ry great, While bounded like a Ball; But sunk in Love, upon my Arms, Let your brave Head recline, We'll please our selves with mutual Charms, As we did lang syne. |
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(4)
O'er Moor and Dale, with your gay Friend,
You may pursue the Chase, And, after a blyth Bottle, end All Cares in my Embrace; And in a vacant rainy Day, You shall be wholly mine; We'll make the Hours run smooth away, And laugh at lang syne. |
(5)
The Heroe pleas'd with the sweet air,
And Signs of gen'rous Love, Which had been uttered by the Fair, Bow'd to the Pow'rs above; Next Day with Consent and glad Haste, Th' approach the sacred Shrine, Where the good Priest the Couple blest, And put them out of Pine. |