Volume III, song 257, page 266 - 'The Captive Ribband' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1 (tune: 'A Ga(e)lic Air'): 'Dear Myra, the captive ribband's mine, 'Twas all my faithfull love could gain; And would you ask me to resign, The sole reward that crowns my pain.' 'Ribband' refers to a ribbon used as decoration or possibly given as a prize. 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. Robert Burns included notes on the songs in an interleaved copy of the 'Museum', belonging to his friend Captain Robert Riddell of Glenriddell. The only comment he made on 'The Captive Ribband' was 'This air is called 'Robie donna Gorach''. John Glen, in 'Early Scottish Melodies' (1900), also talks of the Highland air 'Robie donna gorrach' or 'Daft Robin'. It was included in a number of song collections prior to the 'Museum', including Daniel Dow's 'Ancient Scots Tunes' (c. 1715) and in Reverend Patrick McDonald's 'Collection of Highland Vocal Airs' (1784).

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503453

Title

Volume III, song 257, page 266 - 'The Captive Ribband' - 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