Stories of Famous Songs, Vol 2

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STORIES OF
Miscellany," in which " Farewell to Lochaber3 farewell to my Jean/' first appears, wras not issued until 1724. In the " Book of Scottish Songs/* it is stated that the original vamz of the melody of Lochaber was " King James's March to Ireland/' but as the melody known as " The Irish Tune" was popular in the reign of Charles IL, before James was King, the very title damages Scotland's claim. Again, James did not go to Ireland until 1688, while the tune was already a favourite in London as " The Irish Tune," twelve years before that. There were about a dozen different sets of words, all English, prior to 1720, and contemporaneously with Ramsay's publication; but not a syllable of " Lochaber" or " King James" is mentioned in connection therewith. It was introduced into the " Lover's Opera," 1730, as performed at the Theatre Royal by His Majesty's Servants, by Mr. Chetwood. As I have previously stated, the air was composed by Miles O'Reilly, and was carried into Scotland by O'Connallon. Thomas Duffet, as his name unmistakably shows, was an Irishman, who commenced life in London as a milliner, in the New Exchange, London. Beside "Since Ccelia's my Foe," he wrote " Come all you pale Lovers," and a number of burlesques that were very successful on the
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