Volume I, song 035, page 36 - 'May-Eve or Kate of Aberdeen' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1: 'The silver moon's enamour'd beams, Steal softly through the night, To wanton in the winding streams, And kiss reflected light. To courts, begone! Heart soothing sleep, where you've so seldom been, Whilst I May's wakeful vigil keep, With Kate of Aberdeen With Kate of Aberdeen With Kate of Aberdeen.' 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 response to a request from his friend Robert Riddell of Glenriddell, Burns inserted notes regarding the songs into an interleaved copy of the first four volumes of the 'Museum'. Burns identified this particular song as the work of 'Cunningham the player'. He then relates a story about Cunningham, told to him by a Mr Wood, in which the poet is reprimanded by a Church dignitary for fishing on a Sunday.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503231

Title

Volume I, song 035, page 36 - 'May-Eve or Kate of Aberdeen' - 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