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

19G EAELY SCOTTISH MELODIES.
434. LEEZIE LINDSAY.
In his note Stenhouse declares, " This beautiful old air was communicated
by Burns," and he adds, on the strength of a memorandum written by
Johnson on the original manuscript of the music, " Mr Burns is to send
words," but they were never transmitted. We give the above statement
for what it is worth. G. F. Graham says, " The old air, probably Highland,
was sent by Burns to Johnson." It is the music to which we desire to
turn our attention. Both Stenhouse and Graham say old air, but neither
have adduced any proof of its age, and the latter says, probably Highland,
which is simply conjecture. No such melody is found in any collection
whatever prior to the Museum having the name " Leezie Lindsay," or any
other title; and we therefore consider the tune coeval with the stanza.
Those who possess Stenhouse's Illustrations will observe that Burns is not
committed to a single word in it ; " communicated by Burns," " was written
by Burns," and " Mr Burns is to send words," are not his ; does the last not
suggest that he never wrote the verse in the Museum ? and Johnson has
not prefixed to the tune " Written for this work by B. Burns." The tune
in the Museum we prefer to what is the more modern one.
435. THE AULD WIFE AYONT THE FIKE.
This tune, we are informed by Stenhouse, is contained in Mrs Crockat's
Manuscript Music-Book, written in 1709, under the title of " The old Wife
beyond the Fire." If the statement is correct, it is the earliest source we
have for the melody. The air is also included in Walsh's Caledonian
Country Dances, book ii., entitled, " Set the old Wife beyond the Fire " ;
and in Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion, book v., page 2, " The old
Wife beyond the Fire." We have now ascertained that Walsh is the earlier
of the two printed collections. This melody is sung to the song of " Welcome
Royal Charlie." " The auld Wife ayont the Fire " is one of several songs
that were added to the first volume of the Tea-Table Miscellany.
436. FOE THE SAKE 0' SOMEBODY.
This song was written by Burns for the Museum, with the exception of
two lines. These were taken from a song of the same name in the second
volume of the Tea-Table Miscellany. The tune united to Burns's words is
not that now sang, and is taken from Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Com-
panion, book iv. It consists of one strain only. For the excellent melody
now in use we are indebted to Urbani, in whose Selection, book iv., 1800,
it appears (but not claimed by him), three years only after the Museum.