Volume III, song 255, page 264 - 'O were I on Parnassus Hill' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1 (to the tune of 'My love is lost to me'): 'O were I on Parnussus hill; Or had o' Helicon my fill; That I might catch poetic skill, To sing how dear I love thee. But Nith maun be my Muses well, My muse maun be thy bonnie sell; On Corsincon I'll glow'r and spell, And write how dear I love thee.' Mount Parnassus was the traditional home of the Greek Muses, the patrons of art. Helicon is an area in central Greece, parallel with the Gulf of Corinth and forms part of the area of Boeotia. The hill, 'Corsincon' or Corsencon, mentioned is only 25 miles from Ellisland. 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. This song was written by Robert Burns just before his bride-to-be, Jean Armour, arrived at his farm in Ellisland. This is one of seven poems inspired by Jean and deals with the happier aspects of matrimony. Burns comments in his personal notes, 'the air is Oswald's: the song I made out of compliment to Mrs Burns.' The tune was originally composed by James Oswald and published by him in his many collections. It was reset at the turn of the 20th century by the Scottish composer, Frands George Scott (1880-1952).

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503451

Title

Volume III, song 255, page 264 - 'O were I on Parnassus Hill' - 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