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The Caledonian Muse
by Thompson, Samuel, Ann & Peter



Tunes list



Copy details


Publisher

London

Edition

[1st]

Date

1790

Library

A K Bell Library, Perth (GB-P)

Shelfmark

Bd48

Description

The collection appears to have been compiled from a number of different sources, McGibbon and Bremner in particular. The prefatory essay, not always present in extant copies, is largely from Macdonald's Highland Vocal Airs (Ramsay of Ochtertyre's work). Some tunes are identified as songs from stage works (e.g. The Beggars Opera, The Gentle Shepherd, Highland Reel, Mackbeth), others are assigned a Highland/Island provenance, often from Macdonald, although the Gaelic is erratic.

Notes

Some tunes have a tempo indication. The basslines are mostly simple, some with repeated crotchets, and some more elegant and baroque. Nos. 83 (taken from Highland Vocal Airs) and 109 are St Kilda song and dance, and St Kilda is discussed in the essay.

Copy notes

Includes prefatory essay. (See a transcription here)

Pages

72 p

Orientation

Landscape

Gore

C4

Biographical info

Publishers Samuel, Ann and Peter Thompson were active as far back as 1781, trading from 75 St Paul's Church Yard, London. An earlier Peter Thomson was trading as early as 1746. Kidson dates this volume c.1789, but published advertisements place it in 1790, when the same publishers issued The Hibernian Muse. The last trace of the firm is in the name of Henry Thompson in 1804.

Other locations

GB-En Glen 151(2) [essay included]
GB-Gm M8709/786.45 [essay missing; minimal notes by Kidson. Handwritten copy of titlepage.]
GB-Lbl a.28
GB-Lbl a.195.(2) [Imperfect; wanting the titlepage and pp.65,66]
GB-DUcl 92467


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