Volume III, song 241, page 250 - 'St Kilda Song' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'By the stream so cool and clear, And thro' the caves where breezes languish, Soothing still my tender anguish, Hoping still to find my lover, I have wander'd far and near. O where shall I the youth discover.' 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. Both willows and ivy are mentioned in this song, but neither of these plants particularly grew on St Kilda during the eighteenth century. The first occurrence of the song in print is in 1784, where it was included in Rev. Patrick McDonald's 'Collection of Highland Vocal Airs'. The author was given as Andrew MacDonald. He attached the prefix 'Mac' upon entering the Episcopal church, as his father, a Leith gardener, was George Donald. He originally published his work under the pseudonym, Matthew Bramble.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503438

Title

Volume III, song 241, page 250 - 'St Kilda Song' - 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