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.
|
(2)
Blest Days when our ingen'ous Sex,
More frank and kind, More frank and kind, Did not their lov'd Adorers vex, But spoke their Mind, But spoke their Mind Repenting now she promis'd fair, Wou'd he return, Wou'd he return, She ne'er again wou'd give him Care, Or cause him mourn, Or cause him mourn. |
(3)
Why lov'd I the deserving Swain,
Yet still thought shame, Yet still thought shame, When he my yielding Heart did gain, To own my Flame, To own my Flame. Why took I pleasure to torment; And seem too coy, And seem too coy, Which makes me now alas lament, My slighted Joy, My slighted Joy. |
|
(4)
Ye fair, while Beauty's in its Spring,
Own your Desire, Own your Desire; While Love's young Pow'r with his soft wing Fans up the Fire, Fans up the Fire, O do not with a silly Pride, Or low design, Or low design, Refuse to be a happy Bride, But answer plain, But answer plain. |
(5)
Thus the fair Mourner wail'd her Crime,
With flowing Eyes, With flowing Eyes, Glad Jamie heard her all the Time, With sweet Surprise, With sweet Surprise Some God had led him to the Grove, His mind unchang'd, His mind unchang'd, Flew to her Arms, and cry'd, my Love, I am reveng'd, I am reveng'd! |