Orpheus Caledonius: Or, A Collection of Scots Songs Set to Music by W. Thomson [Volume II ONLY)

W. Thomson

Published by Printed for the Author at his House in Leicester-Fields, 1733

About this Item

VOLUME II ONLY. Author William Thomson (fl. 1695?1753) was a Scottish folk song collector and singer. He is said to have been the son of Daniel Thomson, one of the king's trumpeters for Scotland. He was the editor of the first collection of Scottish folk songs published together with their melodies. This is a folio named Orpheus Caledonius, a collection of the best Scotch songs set to Musick, entered at Stationers' Hall on 5 January 1725. The book consists of 50 songs with their airs, along with a simple accompaniment. A second volume, in two volumes octavo, had another 50 added. The two editions are interesting and valuable, although Sir John Hawkins described him as "a tradesman" and said that his collection was injudicious and incorrect. The words of the songs were largely taken from Allan Ramsay's Tea-Table Miscellany, published in 1724. (wikipedia). Thomson dedicated this work to Her Grace the Duchess of Hamilton. Some of the songs include: "Cromlet's Lilt", "My Deary, If Thou Die", "Say Merry as We Have Been", "The Bonny Earl of Murray", "Lady Anne Bothwel's Lament", and "The Bonny Lass of Branksom", to name a few. This edition is Volume II ONLY. Rebound, hardcover. Green pebbled cloth boards. Marbled endpapers. Cover shows wear and rubbing with some uneven color tones and the corners are scuffed. The spine bears raised bands and gilt lettering, and has been sunned to a light brown color. Head, foot and foredge are "sprinkled" with brown speckled decoration. Due to its consist pattern, this decoration was likely made by the "sprinkle frame" method (made of interlaced copper where the binder simply took a short-bristled brush, similar to a nail brush, and rubbed it across the mesh of the frame to produce a very even sprinkle of colour)(adelaide.edu.au). Title-pages in red and black with engraved ornaments. Beautiful, engraved ornaments adorn the pages throughout, along with the simple scores and additional verses to the music written on either the verso or recto pages. Some foxing and minor creasing throughout, but otherwise sturdy, complete, intact, and are quite legible. 52 pp. A delightful copy. Full refund if not satisfied.

Seller Inventory # 065173

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Orpheus Caledonius: Or, A Collection of Scots Songs Set to Music by W. Thomson [Volume II ONLY)
• Publisher: Printed for the Author at his House in Leicester-Fields
• Publication Date: 1733
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Music