Volume VI, song 565, page 584 - 'You ask me charming fair' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'You ask me charming fair Why thus I pensive go. From whence proceeds my care What nourishes my woe. Why seek'st the cause to find of ills that I endure Ah! why so vainly kind unless resolv'd to cure.' 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. The lyricist of this song is known to be William Hamilton of Bangour (1704-54). He was one of the celebrated Scots bards of the early eighteenth century. Rather than writing in the more fashionable pastoral style, Hamilton was renown for his celebration of feminine charms amongst upper class ladies. The words had not been set to music previous to the 'Museum' and the composer's name at the time was not recorded. As a result it is now impossible to tell who wrote this piece of music and if a separate title was intended.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503760

Title

Volume VI, song 565, page 584 - 'You ask me charming fair' - 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