Volume IV, song 385, page 399 - 'Orananaoig or, The Song of death' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse I (sung to 'A Gaelic Air'): 'Farewell, thou fair day; thou green earth; and ye skies, Now gay with the broad setting sun! Farewell, loves and friendships, ye dear tender ties! Our race of existence is run. Thou grim king of terrors, Thou life's gloomy foe, Go frighten the coward and slave! Go teach them to tremble, fell tyrant! but know, No terrors hast thou to the Brave.' 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. According to John Glen, in 'Early Scottish Melodies' (1900), 'This is a beautiful song written by Burns to a Highland melody contained in the Rev. Patrick McDonald's 'Collection of Highland Vocal Airs', etc., 1784.' He further enthuses that the 'tune is an excellent one'. A romantic story, surrounding the melody, tells of a piper playing 'The ancient Death-Song of the Skye-men' or 'Oran an Aoig' following the death of Cameron of Fassifern. This is highly unlikely as the tune cannot be played on the bagpipes.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503580

Title

Volume IV, song 385, page 399 - 'Orananaoig or, The Song of death' - 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

- 132 x 211 mm