Volume VI, song 530, page 547 - 'Anna, they Charms my bosom fire' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verses 1 and 2: 'Anna thy charms my bosom fire, And press my soul with care But ah, how bootless to admire, When fated to despair. Yet in thy presence, lovely Fair, To hope may be forgiv'n: For sure 'twere impious to despair, /So much in sight of Heaven.' The 'Scots Musical Museum' is the most important of the numerous eighteenth- and nineteenth-century collections of Scottish song. When the engraver James Johnson started work on the second volume of his collection in 1787, he enlisted Robert Burns as contributor and editor. Burns enthusiastically collected songs from various sources, often expanding or revising them, whilst including much of his own work. The resulting combination of innovation and antiquarianism gives the work a feel of living tradition. Robert Burns wrote the lyrics for this song, which was published in 1787. John Glen (1900) writes that the melody for the song was originally composed by James Oswald, and appears in his 'Curious Collection of Scots Tunes' (1740) under the title, 'Bonny Mary'. Oswald also includes the song in his 'Caledonian Pocket Companion' (1759). Glen points out that James Johnson has taken some liberties with this melody, which Glen considers to be one of Oswald's best compositions.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503724

Title

Volume VI, song 530, page 547 - 'Anna, they Charms my bosom fire' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Object Type

PhysicalObject

Measurements

- 129 x 211 mm