Volume I, song 075, page 76 - 'The Banks of the Forth' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'Ye sylvan pow'rs that rule the plain, Where sweetly winding Fortha glides, Conduct me to these banks again, Since there my charming Mary bides. These banks that breathe their vernal sweets, Where every smiling beauty meets; Where Mary's charms adorn the plain, And chear the heart of every swain.' 'Swain' in this context translates as admirer or suitor. 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. In his collection of notes, Burns's only comment on this song reads, rather tersely, 'This air is Oswald's'. It was written by James Oswald, another composer and collector and was published it in his 'Curious Collection of Scots Tunes' (1740). It is believed that the tune is better suited to being played on the violin or flute rather than sung, but it is a lively tune nevertheless.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503270

Title

Volume I, song 075, page 76 - 'The Banks of the Forth' - 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

- 130 x 211 mm