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Celtic Hist Newsletter: Scots Musical Museum
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hist-@historicgames.com
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Apr 01, 2009 11:37 PST
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The Celtic History Newsletter
Brought to you by
The Celtic Croft
http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/
&
MacGregor Historic Games
http://historicgames.com
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The Scots Musical Museum
The Scots Musical Museum is probably the most significant early
collections of Scottish tradition song. The first volume was published
in 1787 and included three songs by Robert Burns. Burns eventually
contributed about one third of the 600 songs contained in the final
six volume collection, and in many ways is considered to have been the
work's editor in all but name. The final volume was published in 1803.
The project was begun by James Johnson, a struggling printer and
seller of music, who had a love of old Scots songs and a determination
to preserve them. Johnson was a respected, but not too prosperous
printer and was the first in Edinburgh to print sheet music using
pewter plates rather than more expensive copper engraved plates.
(Pewter being a softer metal would be easier to engrave and probably
easier to "recycle" since it could be melted and recast at a
relatively low temperature.)
The introduction to a 1991 reprint of the "Museum" claims his
motivation was more patriotic than commercial. In Scotland, some
believed that the 1707 union of the Scottish and English parliaments
would enable Scotland to recover from the financial disaster brought
about by the Darien Scheme (as I mentioned last month). But the loss
of independence caused by further unification with England was deeply
felt by some Scots In the words of Robert Burns:
"We were bought and sold for English Gold,
Sic (such) a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation."
The feelings may have spurred interest in preserving Scots literature,
song and other aspects of the national culture including the creation
of the "Scots Musical Museum"
In the winter of 1786 Johnson met Robert Burns through a gathering of
the Crochallan Fencibles, a loose social club of men who met at Dawnie
Douglas' tavern in Edinburgh. and found that Burns shared this
interest in folk songs and it seems that they may have come to an
agreement that very evening to collaborate on the project. As the work
began, Burns soon seems to have discovered that Johnson, in spite of
being a printer, was not much of a speller... and Burns found it
necessary to proof-read the final text of the songs prior to printing.
However it seems Burns had little difficulty work with Johnson
compared to other printers he had worked with since Johnson rarely
suggested changes to words, and had not musical aspirations of his own.
One of the reasons the Scottish Musical Museum became one of the most
valuable collections of its kind is the publisher's adherence to a
policy of presenting the tunes of the songs in simple forms, with
minimal instrumental ornamentation, therefore preventing the basic
melodies from being obscured by elaborate arrangements and harmonies
that are found in similar collections of the time.
A reprint of the complete collection was published in two volumes in
1991 by Amadeus Press, Portland Oregon. (ISBN 0931340292) Used copies
are available through Amazon starting at $55.00
http://tinyurl.com/csw3d9 Or request it via an Inter-library loan
through your local library.
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In response to our article on the Scottish Royal Company of Archers.
Mr. Steve F. was kind enough to share this:
"Great article - I really enjoy receiving these! The uniform referenced
above is of a style known as a "hunting frock," which in various forms
was a very popular uniform item during the American Revolution. They
tended to be pretty rustic, and in the early years of the Rev many
soldiers wore their own. Some units adopted the hunting frock as
their official uniform, early in the War, before the French started
inporting patterns and materials, as well as finished garments, for a
more standard regimental coat.
This frock is fancied up some for ceremonial wear. The hunting frock in
general seems like an appropriate choice for a company of citizen-archers!"
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The Celtic Croft
http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/
&
MacGregor Historic Games
http://historicgames.com
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