BIB_ID
293593
Accession number
MA 47.11
Creator
Burns, Robert, 1759-1796.
Display Date
[1793 Apr.].
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1906.
Description
1 item (6 p.) ; 25.4 cm
Notes
"A Ballad" first line: There was a lass and she was fair.
"Jesse -- A new Scots song" first line: True-hearted was he, the sad swain o' the Yarrow.
"Open the door to me Oh" first line: Oh, open the door, some pity to shew.
"Open the door to me Oh" with edits by Thomson, but as published in Kinsley. "Jesse -- A new Scots song To the tune -- Bonie Dundee" with an edit by Thomson, but as published in Kinsley. "A Ballad" without edits and differing in the choice of a single word (second stanza, first line) from the published version; see note in Kinsley.
"The gloomy night &c." and "The Banks of Ayr" refer to Burns's 1786 song to the tune "Roslin Castle" (first line: The gloomy night is gath'ring fast). (See Kinsley, v. 1, number 122, p. 291-292).
Burns also told James Johnson that his work would "be the text book & standard of Scotish Song & Music."-- Cf. Ferguson, letter 696, p. 381-382.
It is unclear what ode Burns is referring to when he references the air "She rose & loot me in." -- Cf. Ferguson, p. 197, n. 4 for possibilities.
Part of a large collection of letters from Robert Burns to George Thomson. Items are described individually; see collection record (MA 47 and MA 50) for more information.
With notes in Thomson's hand.
"Jesse -- A new Scots song" first line: True-hearted was he, the sad swain o' the Yarrow.
"Open the door to me Oh" first line: Oh, open the door, some pity to shew.
"Open the door to me Oh" with edits by Thomson, but as published in Kinsley. "Jesse -- A new Scots song To the tune -- Bonie Dundee" with an edit by Thomson, but as published in Kinsley. "A Ballad" without edits and differing in the choice of a single word (second stanza, first line) from the published version; see note in Kinsley.
"The gloomy night &c." and "The Banks of Ayr" refer to Burns's 1786 song to the tune "Roslin Castle" (first line: The gloomy night is gath'ring fast). (See Kinsley, v. 1, number 122, p. 291-292).
Burns also told James Johnson that his work would "be the text book & standard of Scotish Song & Music."-- Cf. Ferguson, letter 696, p. 381-382.
It is unclear what ode Burns is referring to when he references the air "She rose & loot me in." -- Cf. Ferguson, p. 197, n. 4 for possibilities.
Part of a large collection of letters from Robert Burns to George Thomson. Items are described individually; see collection record (MA 47 and MA 50) for more information.
With notes in Thomson's hand.
Summary
Responding to a letter just received, stating that his is "decidedly against setting 'The gloomy night &c.' to the air, 'my Nanie O,'" suggesting that "eight out of ten" subscribers would prefer Burns's song to the tune of "My Nanie, O" ("though an inferior song") to "The Banks of Ayr," reminding Thomson that Dasti has set those verses to an original air. Allowing Thomson to alter the first two lines of "Galla Water," and approving of edits made by Erskine to his "Here awa', there awa.'" Criticizing Thomson's taste and discussing "the very essence of a Ballad." Discussing proposed edits to his song to the tune of "Nansy 's to the green-wood gane" (referred to here by its alternate first line: The last time I came o'er the moor), Ramsay's "The lass o' Patie's mill," his song to the tune of "Corn rigs are bonie," and "She rose & loot me in." Asking for an extension on composing a song to the tune "My lodging is on the cold ground." Asking for a list of the first 25 airs Thomson means to publish, discussing the necessity to "select & arrange them with double circumspection." Mentioning his "Song -- Tune, Cauld kail in Aberdeem," and his fragment beginning "Green grow the rashes O." Enclosing a song "to suit Bonie Dundee" ("Jesse -- a new Scots song," see accompanying material) and "a Ballad to the Mill mill O" (probably "When wild War's deadly Blast was blawn," not present). Giving the first stanza of "Oh ken ye what Meg o' the mill has gotten," and enclosing a fair copy of the full verses (see accompanying material). Giving the first three stanzas of "A Ballad." Asking Thomson to preserve these verses, as he has no other copy. Stating that Thomson's book "will be the Standard of Scots Songs for the future."
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