Blacklock, as the productions of his son, from
which the Doctor rightly prognosticated that the young poet would make,
in his more advanced years, a respectable figure in the world of
letters.
which the Doctor rightly prognosticated that the young poet would make,
in his more advanced years, a respectable figure in the world of
letters.
Robert Burns
I have been told by somebody, who had it of
Marshall himself, that he took the idea of his three most celebrated
pieces, "The Marquis of Huntley's Reel," his "Farewell," and "Miss
Admiral Gordon's Reel," from the old air, "The German Lairdie. "
* * * * *
GILL MORICE.
This plaintive ballad ought to have been called Child Maurice, and not
Gil Maurice. In its present dress, it has gained immortal honour from
Mr. Home's taking from it the ground-work of his fine tragedy of
Douglas. But I am of opinion that the present ballad is a modern
composition; perhaps not much above the age of the middle of the last
century; at least I should be glad to see or hear of a copy of the
present words prior to 1650. That it was taken from an old ballad,
called "Child Maurice," now lost, I am inclined to believe; but the
present one may be classed with "Hardyknute," "Kenneth," "Duncan, the
Laird of Woodhouselie," "Lord Livingston," "Binnorie," "The Death of
Monteith," and many other modern productions, which have been
swallowed by many readers as ancient fragments of old poems. This
beautiful plaintive tune was composed by Mr. M'Gibbon, the selector of
a collection of Scots tunes. R. B.
In addition to the observations on Gil Morice, I add, that of the songs
which Captain Riddel mentions, "Kenneth" and "Duncan" are juvenile
compositions of Mr. M'Kenzie, "The Man of Feeling. "--M'Kenzie's father
showed them in MS. to Dr.
Blacklock, as the productions of his son, from
which the Doctor rightly prognosticated that the young poet would make,
in his more advanced years, a respectable figure in the world of
letters.
This I had from Blacklock.
* * * * *
TIBBIE DUNBAR.
This tune is said to be the composition of John M'Gill, fiddler, in
Girvan. He called it after his own name.
* * * * *
WHEN I UPON THY BOSOM LEAN.
This song was the work of a very worthy facetious old fellow, John
Lapraik, late of Dalfram, near Muirkirk; which little property he was
obliged to sell in consequence of some connexion as security for some
persons concerned in that villanous bubble THE AYR BANK. He
has often told me that he composed this song one day when his wife had
been fretting o'er their misfortunes.
* * * * *
MY HARRY WAS A GALLANT GAY.
Tune--"Highlander's Lament. "
The oldest title I ever heard to this air, was, "The Highland Watch's
Farewell to Ireland. " The chorus I picked up from an old woman in
Dumblane; the rest of the song is mine.
* * * * *
THE HIGHLAND CHARACTER.
This tune was the composition of Gen. Reid, and called by him "The
Highland, or 42d Regiment's March. " The words are by Sir Harry
Erskine.
Marshall himself, that he took the idea of his three most celebrated
pieces, "The Marquis of Huntley's Reel," his "Farewell," and "Miss
Admiral Gordon's Reel," from the old air, "The German Lairdie. "
* * * * *
GILL MORICE.
This plaintive ballad ought to have been called Child Maurice, and not
Gil Maurice. In its present dress, it has gained immortal honour from
Mr. Home's taking from it the ground-work of his fine tragedy of
Douglas. But I am of opinion that the present ballad is a modern
composition; perhaps not much above the age of the middle of the last
century; at least I should be glad to see or hear of a copy of the
present words prior to 1650. That it was taken from an old ballad,
called "Child Maurice," now lost, I am inclined to believe; but the
present one may be classed with "Hardyknute," "Kenneth," "Duncan, the
Laird of Woodhouselie," "Lord Livingston," "Binnorie," "The Death of
Monteith," and many other modern productions, which have been
swallowed by many readers as ancient fragments of old poems. This
beautiful plaintive tune was composed by Mr. M'Gibbon, the selector of
a collection of Scots tunes. R. B.
In addition to the observations on Gil Morice, I add, that of the songs
which Captain Riddel mentions, "Kenneth" and "Duncan" are juvenile
compositions of Mr. M'Kenzie, "The Man of Feeling. "--M'Kenzie's father
showed them in MS. to Dr.
Blacklock, as the productions of his son, from
which the Doctor rightly prognosticated that the young poet would make,
in his more advanced years, a respectable figure in the world of
letters.
This I had from Blacklock.
* * * * *
TIBBIE DUNBAR.
This tune is said to be the composition of John M'Gill, fiddler, in
Girvan. He called it after his own name.
* * * * *
WHEN I UPON THY BOSOM LEAN.
This song was the work of a very worthy facetious old fellow, John
Lapraik, late of Dalfram, near Muirkirk; which little property he was
obliged to sell in consequence of some connexion as security for some
persons concerned in that villanous bubble THE AYR BANK. He
has often told me that he composed this song one day when his wife had
been fretting o'er their misfortunes.
* * * * *
MY HARRY WAS A GALLANT GAY.
Tune--"Highlander's Lament. "
The oldest title I ever heard to this air, was, "The Highland Watch's
Farewell to Ireland. " The chorus I picked up from an old woman in
Dumblane; the rest of the song is mine.
* * * * *
THE HIGHLAND CHARACTER.
This tune was the composition of Gen. Reid, and called by him "The
Highland, or 42d Regiment's March. " The words are by Sir Harry
Erskine.
