| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
INTRODUCTION
first wrote them down, except in one or two instances where I have been enabled to strengthen my convictions.
With the sore point that has long vexed the patriotic pride of Hibernia and Caledonia as to the nationality of the music of many old ballads I have nothing to do; but as some modern Scottish writers are apt to claim most of the ancient airs as springing from their own country or countrymen, I venture to quote from a letter written by Robert Burns to his friend and publisher Thomson in 1793, when a National Collection of Scottish Songs was in progress.
"Your Irish airs are pretty, but they are downright Irish. If they were like the ' Banks of Banna' for instance, though really Irish, yet in the Scottish taste, you might adopt them. Since you are so fond of Irish music, what say you to twenty-five of them in an additional number ? We could easily find this quantity of charming airs: I will take care that you shall not want songs; and I assure you you would find it the most saleable of the whole." While Thomson admits in a letter to Burns, February 5th, 1796, the high quality of Irish melodies, he annexes them, at the same time reconciling him-self to the act of spoliation in this way:
" We have several true-born Irishmen on the
12 |
||