Inglis Collection of printed music > Printed text > Early Scottish melodies

THE SCOTS MUSICAL MUSEUM. 145
Poems, 1721, without any allusion to a Pastoral, under the title of " Patie
and Pegie," A Song. He made no mention of any air, but this appeared in
the Musick for the Scots Songs in the Tea-Table Miscellany, circa 1726.
It may be a composition of some musical friend of Ramsay, as Stenhouse
says, but this we cannot affirm. We may state that the melody is not devoid
of merit, though it has none of the characteristics of a Scots tune. It is
not found in any collection of Scots tunes previous to 1726.
255. 0, WERE I ON PARNASSUS HILL.
Tune — "My Love is lost to Me."
This very beautiful melody is the composition of James Oswald, and it is
included in his " Caledonian Pocket Companion," book v., page 25. In
compass it is rather extensive for the voice, but could be judiciously
altered. The song was written by Robert Burns.
256. SONG OF SELMA.
This air, Stenhouse says, is another of Oswald's compositions. We have
not been able, however, to discover it in any of his works known to
us. Neil Stewart published the tune with the words in his Thirty
Scots Songs for a Voice and Harpsichord, 1781 ; from which source it has
evidently been copied into the Museum.
257. THE CAPTIVE RIBBAND.
"A Gaelic Air."
The tune is a Highland one called " Robie donna gorrach," or " Daft
Robin," and is contained in D. Dow's "Ancient Scots Tunes," circa 1775, also
in the Reverend Patrick M'Donald's " Collection of Highland Vocal Airs,"
etc., 1784. It is contained also in the M'Farlan MS., 1740.
258. THERE'S A YOUTH IN THIS CITY.
"A Gaelic Air."
The tune to which this song is adapted is none other than Niel Gow's
Lament for the death of his brother Donald. It is claimed by Niel Gow,
and is published in his "Second Collection of Reels," etc., 1788.
259. MY HEART'S IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Tune — "Failte na miosg."
This song is adapted to a melody bearing the above Gaelic title found in
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