Volume VI, song 588, page 608 - 'The Highlander's lament' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'A Soldier for gallant atchievements renown'd, Resolv'd in despair the campaigns of his youth; Then beating his bosom and sighing profound, That malice itself might have melted to ruth. Are these he exclaim'd the results of my toil, In want and obscurity thus to retire? For this did compassion restrain me from spoil, When earth was all carnage and heaven was on fire?' 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. Johnson has included a note at the bottom of the page, which supposes that this song was written in 1746. A number of people believe it was written directly after the Battle of Culloden (1746). Unfortunately, it will never be known if this is in fact true. Prior to the 'Museum', the accompanying melody appeared in Niel Gow's 'Fourth Collection of Strathspey Reels, &c.' (1800) under the title, 'Cairngorm Mountain'. Gow described the tune as 'a very old Gaelic melody'. An almost identical set, which was described as an Irish air, appeared in the Rev. Patrick McDonald's 'Collection of Highland Vocal Airs' (1784). For the purposes of the 'Museum', however, Johnson opted for Gow's version.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503783

Title

Volume VI, song 588, page 608 - 'The Highlander's lament' - 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