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

252 EARLY SCOTTISH MELODIES.
set to the following tunes of Oswald's, viz. : — " My love is lost to me," "The
Maid's Complaint," " Sweet's the lass that loves me," " Bonny Mary," and
" The Stolen Kiss," from " Colin's Kisses " (erroneously called " The Secret
Kiss " in the " Caledonian Pocket Companion "). His tune " Alloa House "
is set to a song of the same name written by the Eev. Dr Alexander
Webster, an Edinburgh minister. If the poets chose the airs, which, from
their extensive compass, were beyond most voices, unsuited to their verses,
surely the composer is not responsible. One of the tunes ascribed to Oswald,
" Sweet's the Lass that loves me," is not his, as we have already shown.
Oswald, as a compiler, has preserved for us in his Collections a number
of fine Scots tunes, — both of an early date and of his own time, — that might
otherwise have been lost. He is, therefore, entitled to our respect and
gratitude. " The Lads of Leith," now known as " She's fair and fause,"
is one ; another is the jig without name to which the words of " My tocher's
the jewel " are sung. This tune is erroneously called " The Highway to
Edinburgh " by Aird, apparently from the title of the preceding tune in
the " Caledonian Pocket Companion," in which mistake he is followed by
Stenhouse, who asserts that " the jig is the 'Highway to Edinburgh ' thrown
in treble time," — a clear error, as the two tunes bear not the slightest
resemblance to one another.
Oswald dedicated two of his Collections to Frederick Prince of Wales,
and we think it probable that he taught music to the family of His Eoyal
Highness, — for George III., soon after his accession to the throne, conferred
on Oswald the title of Chamber Composer to His Majesty, as announced
in the Gentleman's Magazine for January 1761. Oswald probably did not
continue long in business after receiving this appointment, for we know
of only one of his subsequent publications that bears on its title, " Chamber
Composer to His Majesty." Our surmise is further strengthened by the
fact that the XL and XII. Books of the " Caledonian Pocket Companion "
bear merely the imprint, " Printed for the Author, and Sold at the Musick
Shops." After a busy life, and having relinquished business, Oswald
seems to have gone to reside in Knebworth, Herts, and to have died there
on the 2nd of January 1769, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.
WILLIAM M'GIBBON.
This musician was born about the end of the Seventeenth Century.
He was the son of Mathew M'Gibbon who played the hautboy in the Edin-
burgh concert called "The Feast of St Cecilia," 1695. Tytler says,
" William was sent at an early age to London, and studied the Violin under
Corbet (a distinguished master and composer) for many years. After his
return to Edinburgh, he was appointed leader of the orchestra in the
Gentlemen's Concert, which position he held for a long time. He was con-
sidered an excellent performer, and had great command over his instrument