Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Dance music of Scotland

XII COLLECTIONS OP ANCIENT AND MODERN SCOTTISH MELODIES.
Melancholy,' published in the year 1720, which seem to have suffered very little by their passing through the
hands of these English Masters who were concerned in the correction of that book ; but in the multiplicity of tunes
in the Scots style that have been published in subsequent collections, it is very difficult to distinguish between the
ancient and modern." A sixth volume appeared in 1720.
3. THOMSON'S ORPHEUS CALEDONIUS.— 1725-1733. This is the earliest Collection of Scottish tunes. It
contains fifty songs with the music, and also the tunes separately arranged for the flute. William Thomson was
a professional Scottish musician, who went to London from Edinburgh, and attracted attention at Court by his
pleasing voice and manner of singing Scottish songs, which be accompanied with the harpsichord. It would
appear that W. Thomson thus brought Scottish airs into vogue in England. In 1733, a new edition of the Orpheus
Caledonius appeared in two vols. 8vo, each containing fifty songs.
4. TEA-TABLE MISCELLANY.— About 1726. " Musick for Allan Ramsay's Collection of Scots Songs : Set by
Alexander Stuart, and engraved by R. Cooper ; Vol. First. Edinburgh, printed and sold by Allan Ramsay." This
very scarce volume, in five parts, is a small oblong, containing the music of seventy-one songs.
5. WATT'S MUSICAD MISCELLANY.— 1729-1731 This Collection, in six vols, small 8vo, contains a number of
Scottish airs and songs.
6. CRAIG'S COLLECTION.— 1730. "A Collection of the choicest Scots Tunes, adapted for the Harpsichord or
Spinnet," &c, by Adam Craig. Oblong folio. Craig was a violin-player and teacher of music in Edinburgh, and
died in October 1741.
7. MUNRO'S COLLECTION.— 1732. Alexander Munro, a Scotsman, published in Paris a Collection of twelve
Scottish tunes with variations, adapted to the German Flute. The French Royal Privilege bears date 1732.
8. JAMES OSWALD'S COLLECTIONS.— 1740-1742. There are three of these Collections ; the first published in
Edinburgh, and the two others in London. He published also several other volumes, under the name of " The
Caledonian Pocket Companion," in twelve parts. Oswald was originally a dancing-master in Dunfermline, and
afterwards came to Edinburgh, where he taught dancing and music. He finally settled in London. His hoaxing
of the public by ascribing certain Scottish tunes to David Rizzio, Queen Mary's Secretary, has been fully discussed
in the Notes to " Wood's Songs of Scotland," passim.
B. WALSH'S COLLECTION.— About 1740. " A Collection of Original Scotch Songs, with a thorough-bass to each
Song," &c, by J. Walsh, London. This consists of songs published on single leaves, and among them English
imitations of Scottish songs.
10. WALSH'S COUNTRY-DANCES.— A Collection, in eight vols., of Scottish dance-tunes then in vogue, but con-
taining many that are not Scottish.
1 1 . BARSANTI'S COLLECTION.— 1 742. " A Collection of Old Scots Tunes, with the Bass for Violoncello or Harp-
sichord," &c, by Francis Barsanti. Edinburgh. Folio, pp. 15. Barsanti %vas a native of Lucca, and born about
1690. He came to London in 1714, and afterwards to Edinburgh, but returned to London about 1750, where he was
obliged to seek for subsistence by playing the viola in the Opera and Vauxhall Orchestras, and where he died in
extreme poverty.
12. MACGIBBON'S COLLECTIONS.— 1742-1755. William M'Gibbon was a Scottish violin-player of some celebrity
in his day, and for many years led the Gentlemen's Concert at Edinburgh. He was a pupil of William Corbett, an
Englishman, then leader of the Opera Orchestra in the Haymarket. M'Gibbon died at Edinburgh, 3d October 1756.
13. BREMNER'S COLLECTIONS.— 1749-1764. Thirty Scots Songs for a Voice and Harpsichord. Edinburgh, about
1749. A second Set of Do. Edinburgh. Twelve Scots Songs for a Voice or Guitar, with a Thorongh-Bass
adapted for that instrument. Edinburgh, 1760. Two Collections of Scots Reels or Country-Dances, witha Bass for
the Violoncello or Harpsichord. London, 1764 ? A curious Collection of Scots Tunes, with variations, for the Violin
and a Bass for the Violoncello or Harpsichord. 1759. The Songs in the Gentle Shepherd, adapted to the Guitar.
1759. Thirty Scots Songs, by Robert Bremner. The words by Allan Ramsay. London. The Freemason's Songs,
&c. 1759. Robert Bremner died at Kensington, 1 2th May 1789.
14. BURKE THUMOTH'S AIRS.— About 1760. Twelve Scotch and twelve Irish Airs, with variations, set for the
German Flute, Violin, or Harpsichord, by Mr. Burke Tliumoth. Vol.1. London. Royal 8vo. A second volume
was published, containing the same number of airs.