The oldest book of airs here referred to is Thomson's Orpheus
Caledonius, ed. 1733. Earlier music-books or manuscript notations
were used in great number by Chappell, Rimbault, and others, and
the results are accessible through their works as cited below.
The same air will frequently be found to have been repeated in
successive publications. Undoubtedly the cases in which the
original air of the older ballads has been preserved are but
few.
Of the airs from manuscript some are very likely to have been
published already; the ascertaining of the fact would have cost
considerable labor, and was not demanded for a list which
avowedly includes repetitions from printed books. The earliest
noted down are, I suppose, the five from the Abbotsford
Manuscript entitled " Scottish Songs," which appear to have been
derived from William Tytler's unrecovered Brown Manuscript This
lost Manuscript was obtained by William Tytler in 1783, and
contained fifteen ballads with the melodies as written down by
Professor Scott from Mrs. Brown's singing; of which melodies it
is said: "Being then but a mere novice in music, he added in the
copy such musical notes as he supposed might give some notion of
the air, or rather lilts, to which they were sung." Twenty-three
airs are given from the Harris Ballad-Manuscript as sung by Mrs.
Amelia Harris to her children about 1830. Miss Jane Harris, one
of them, says that the airs are to be "orally and directly
traced from my great father's (Rev. P. Duncan, Tibbermore) manse
from 1745." Six airs are from a Manuscript of Charles Kirkpatrick
Sharpe written on paper with a watermark of 1822. The remaining
airs are very recent communications from various duly registered
sources, and were all but a very few seemingly written down
within a year or two.
The compilation of the list of printed airs was undertaken for
me by my constant friend Mr. William Walker, of Aberdeen. Some
additions have been made. Mr. Walker also furnished me with
several melodies from the north of Scotland. Revision of the
manuscript airs was required in some cases to correct obvious
errors of notation, and this was performed for me by Mr. W. R.
Spalding, of Harvard College, who has not gone beyond the
amendment of self-evident errors of transcribers.
[The figures in the left-hand column refer to the numbers of
the ballads in this collection.]
1. |
Riddles Wisely Expounded. Gilbert, 65 (B); Chappell,
531 (A); Mason, 31 (E); Bruce, 76 (A).
26. |
2. |
The Elfin Knight. Bruce, 79; Kidson, 43, 172; Broadwood, 12.
|
3. |
The Fause Knight upon the Road. Motherwell, No 32
(B). |
4. |
Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight. Smith, R., III, 92 (C
b); Motherwell, No 24 (D c); Christie, II,
236 (D); Bruce, 48 (E); Burne, 652; Kidson, 27
(E), 172; Broadwood, 164 (E). |
5. |
Gil Brenton. Motherwell, No 5 (F b); Christie,
II, 10 (D). |
7. |
Earl Brand. Scott, III, 1 (B); Smith, R., III, 86
(B); Chambers, 17 (B); Bruce, 31
(A). |
9. |
The Fair Flower of Northumberland. Motherwell, No 2
(D); Kinloch, to p. 131 (B b); Christie, II,
46 (C); Bruce, 51 (A). |
10. |
The Twa Sisters. Motherwell, No 20 (F b);
Christie, I, 40 (C, B), 42 (O); Bruce, 61
(C); Broadwood, 118 (R c). |
11. |
The Cruel Brother. Gilbert, 68 (F); Christie, I, 108
(A). |
12. |
Lord Randal. Johnson, No 327 (F); Campbell, II, 95
(D); Smith, R., III, 58 (D); Chambers, 21
(D); Graham, II, 74. |
14. |
Babylon, or, the Bonnie Banks o Fordie. Motherwell, No 26 (A c); Kinloch, to p. 210
(E). |
16. |
Sheath and Knife. Johnson, No 461 (C). |
17. |
Hind Horn. Motherwell, No 13 (B); Christie, II,
252. |
18. |
Sir Lionel. Christie, I, 110 (B). |
20. |
The Cruel Mother. Johnson, No 320 (B); Smith, R., IV,
33 (L); Kinloch, to p. 44 (D); Christie, I, 104
(F); I, 106 (I); Burne, 651 (Q). |
25. |
Willie's Lyke-Wake. Motherwell, No 17 (D); Christie,
I, 120 (B), 122 (E). |
26. |
The Three Ravens. Ritson, A., 155 (a); Motherwell, No 12 (b);
Chappell, 59; Kidson, 17. [The Twa Corbies. Campbell, II, 26;
Chambers, 15.] |
27. |
The Whummil Bore. Motherwell, No 3 (b). |
33. |
Kempy Kay. Motherwell, No 33 (C). |
37. |
Thomas Rymer. Scott, IV, 117 (C). |
38. |
The Wee Wee Man. Ritson, S., II, 139 (A); Johnson, No
370 (A); Smith, R., IV, 70 (A); Graham, III,
64. |
39. |
Tam Lin. Johnson, No 411 (A); Smith, R., I,
2. |
41. |
Hind Etin. Christie, II, 156 (A). |
43. |
The Broomfield Hill. Kinloch, to p. 195 (D). |
45. |
King John and the Abbot of Canterbury. Rimbault, 73;
Chappell, 350 (B), 352 (B). |
46. |
Captain Wedderburn's Courtship. Christie, II, 48 (B,
A). |
47. |
Proud Lady Margaret. Christie, I, 28 (B
a). |
|
52. The King's Dochter Lady Jean. Motherwell, No 23 (A
b); Christie, I, 228 (C). |
|
53. Young Beichan. Kinloch, to p. 260 (H); Cruikshank
(L); Christie, I, 30 (H); Bruce, 64; Burne, 651
(L); Kidson, 33 (L); Sussex, 43. |
54. |
The Cherry-tree Carol. Sandys, C.C., No 10 (A
a); Rimbault, C., 22 (B); Husk, 194 (B
a); Bramley, 60 (C). |
56. |
Dives and Lazarus. Bramley, 84; Broadwood, 102. |
58. |
Sir Patrick Spens. Johnson, No 482 (A); Campbell, II,
62, 2 airs; Smith, R., IV, 60 (A a); Rimbault, 47
(A); Christie, I, 6 (H, I), 8. |
61. |
Sir Cawline. Christie, II, 18 (King Malcolm and Sir Colvin,
No 61, II, 62). |
64. |
Fair Janet. Graham, I, 92 (A). |
65. |
Lady Maisry. Motherwell, No 14 (I a). |
68. |
Young Hunting. Motherwell, No 8 (F b), No 11;
Kinloch, to p. 1 (B); Chambers, 9. |
69. |
Clerk Saunders. Motherwell, No 16 (A); Kinloch, to p.
233 (C); Christie, II, 112 (G). |
72. |
The Clerk's Twa Sons o Owsenford. Chambers, 7; Christie, I,
212. |
73. |
Lord Thomas and Fair Annet. Johnson, No 535 (A);
Smith, R., VI, 58 (A); Sandys, C.C., No 18 (D);
Rimbault, 94 (D), 112 (A); Chappell, 145
(D); Christie, II, 26 (A), 196 (E); Burne,
651 (D); Kidson, 40 (D). |
74. |
Fair Margaret and Sweet William. Chappell, 383
(A d). |
76. |
The Lass of Roch Royal. Johnson, No 5 (I); Graham, I,
54. |
77. |
Sweet William's Ghost. Ritson, S., II, 201 (A);
Johnson, No 363 (A); Chambers, 11 .(A); Rimbault,
98 (A); Christie, I, 118 (A). |
78. |
The Unquiet Grave. Burne, 651 (F); Baring-Gould, S.,
I, 12. |
79. |
The Wife of Usher's Well. Scott, III, 262
(A). |
81. |
Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard. Motherwell, No 21
(M); Rimbault, 92; Chappell, 170 (A). |
83. |
Child Maurice. Ritson, S., II, 157 (F a);
Johnson, No 203 (F a); Smith, R., II, 106 (F
a); Thomson, G., V, 33; Motherwell, No 6 (C);
Rimbault, 96 (F a); Christie, 1, 158
(F). |
84. |
Bonny Barbara Allan. Ritson, S., II, 196 (A a);
Johnson, No 221 (A a); Thomson, G., III, 35
(A a); Smith, R., II, 80 (A a);
Rimbault, 98 (B), 99 (A a); Chappell, 538
(B d); Graham, II, 16 (A); Christie, I, 86,
88 (A), 283; Kidson, 37, 38 (three airs). |
85. |
Lady Alice. Mason, 46 (C). |
88. |
Young Johnstone. Motherwell, No 18 (F); Chambers, 19;
Christie, I, 156 (E). |
89. |
Fause Foodrage. Christie, I, 172 (A). |
93. |
Lamkin. Smith, R., II, 94 (F); Christie, I, 60
(A). |
94. |
Young Waters. Smith, R., II, 30. |
95. |
The Maid Freed from the Gallows. Broadwood, 112
(K). |
96. |
The Gay Goshawk. Christie, II, 124. |
97. |
Brown Robin. Christie, I, 136 (B). |
99. |
Johnie Scot. Motherwell, No 15 (E). |
100. |
Willie o Winsbury. Kinloch, to p. 89 (H). |
101. |
Willie o Douglas Dale. Christie, II, 32. |
102. |
Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter. Christie, I,
128. |
103. |
Rose the Red and White Lily. Kinloch, to p. 65
(C). |
105. |
The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington. Rimbault, 100 (two
airs); Chappell, 203-4 (two airs); Sussex, 10; Baring-Gould, I,
50. |
106. |
The Famous Flower of Serving-Men. Thomson, G., IV, 39; Smith,
R., V, 73; Rimbault, 95. |
110. |
The Knight and Shepherd's Daughter. Kinloch, to p. 25
(H); Rimbault, 94 (A); Chappell, 127 (A);
Christie, 1, 184 (F b); Kidson, 20. |
112. |
The Baffled Knight. Ritson, A., 160; Johnson, No 477
(D a); Rimbault, 81 (C); Chappell, 63
(A a), 520 (C); Bruce, 81 (D, see IV,
495). |
114. |
Johnie Cock. Motherwell, No 22 (F); Chambers,
13. |
116. |
Adam Bel, Clim of the Clough and William of
Cloudesly. Rimbault, 48. |
118. |
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne. Chappell,
397 (V). |
119. |
Robin Hood and the Monk. Chappell, 542 (?). |
120. |
Robin Hood's Death. Rimbault, G., 435 (B). |
122. |
Robin Hood and the Butcher. Rimbault, G.,
433 f.; Chappell, 392. |
123. |
Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar. Rimbault, G.,
436; Chappell, 393 (B), 542 (?). |
124. |
The Jolly Finder of Wakefield. Chappell, 203 (?),
394 (A). |
125. |
Robin Hood and Little John. Rimbault, G.,
433 f.; Chappell, 392. |
126. |
Robin Hood and the Tanner. Rimbault, G., 433 f.; Chappell,
392. (Air also of 122, 125, 128, 131, 133, 142 B, 143,
146, 150.) |
128. |
Robin Hood Newly Revived. Rimbault, G., 433 f. (Air also of
Nos 122, 125, 126, 131, 133, 142 B, 143, 146, 150.)
Chappell, 392. |
131. |
Robin Hood and the Ranger. Rimbault, G.,
433 f.; Chappell, 392. |
132. |
The Bold Pedlar and Robin Hood. Jewitt, 3. |
133. |
Robin Hood and the Beggar, I. Rimbault, G.,
433 f.; Chappell, 392. |
135. |
Robin Hood and the Shepherd. Rimbault, G., 435. |
136. |
Robin Hood's Delight. Rimbault, G., 435. |
138. |
Robin Hood and Allan a Dale. Rimbault, G., 439. |
140. |
Robin Hood Rescuing Three Squires. Rimbault, G., 438
(B). |
141. |
Robin Hood rescuing Will Stutly. Rimbault, G., 435. |
142. |
Little John a Begging. Rimbault, G., 433 f. (B);
Chappell, 392. |
143. |
Robin Hood and the Bishop. Rimbault, G.,
433 f.; Chappell, 392. |
144. |
Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford. Chappell, 895
(A). |
145. |
Robin Hood and Queen Katherine. Rimbault, G., 435. |
146. |
Robin Hood's Chase. Rimbault, G., 433 f.; Chappell,
392. |
148. |
The Noble Fisherman, or, Robin Hood's Preferment. Rimbault,
G., 436; Chappell, 393 (?). |
150. |
Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Rimbault, G., 433 f.; Chappell,
392. |
155. |
Sir Hugh, or, The Jew's Daughter. Smith, S, I, 65; Johnson,
No 582 (B); Motherwell, No 7 (R);
Rimbault, 46 (B); Mason, 46 (T). |
156. |
Queen Eleanor's Confession. Motherwell, No
27 (F); Rimbault, 65 (F); Chappell, 174
(A). |
157. |
Gude Wallace. Johnson, No 484 (C). |
161. |
The Battle of Otterburn. Scott, I, 368 (C);
Rimbault, 45 (C). |
162. |
The Hunting of the Cheviot: Chevy Chase. Ritson, E., III,
315; Rimbault, 56; Chappell, (see 196), 198, 199, 201; Bruce, 2,
3, 145; Kidson, 19. |
164. |
King Henry Fifth's Conquest of France. Jewitt, 2, 3. |
169. |
Johnie Armstrong. Ritson, S., II, 7 (C); Johnson, No
356 (C); Scott, I, 416 (C); Dauney, 222. |
170. |
The Death of Queen Jane. Kinloch, to p. 116
(B). |
178. |
Captain Car, or, Edom o Gordon. Chappell,
226 (A); Christie, I, 56. |
181. |
The Bonny Earl of Murray. Thomson, W., II, No 4 (A);
Barganti, 14; Ritson, S., II, 29 (A); Johnson, No 177
(A); Smith, R., IV, 100 (A); Rimbault, 68
(A); Christie, I, 202 (A). |
182. |
The Laird o Logie. Motherwell, No 25 (A);
Christie, II, 170 (B). |
185. |
Dick o the Cow. Campbell, II, 30 (c); Scott,
II, 62. |
186. |
Kinmont Willie. Campbell, I, 78. |
187. |
Jock o the Side. Campbell, II, 28 (B b); Chambers, 22
(B); Bruce, 37 (B). |
188. |
Archie o Cawfield. Christie, I, 98 (C); Journal,
VIII, 256 (F). |
191. |
Hughie Grame. Johnson, No 303 (B); Smith, R., IV, 29
(B); Chambers, 24 (B); Graham, II, 44 (?);
Christie, II, 82 (B); Bruce, 34 (C). |
192. |
The Lochmaben Harper. Johnson, No 579 (A
b). |
193. |
The Death of Farcy Reed. Bruce, 42 (B). |
195. |
Lord Maxwell's Last Goodnight. Scott, II, 140
(B). |
196. |
The Fire of Frendraught. Dauney, 218, No 4 (?);
Christie, I, 58. |
199. |
The Bonnie House o Airlie. Smith, R., II, 2 (A);
Thomson, G., I, 34; Kinloch, to p. 100 (D); Graham, II,
130 (A b); Christie, II, 276 (C
d). |
200. |
The Gypsy Laddie. Barsanti, 6; Ritson, S., II, 176
(A); Johnson, No 181 (A); Smith, R., III, 90;
Thomson, G., IV, 35 (A); Dauney, 228, No 30; Graham, I,
114; Burne, 652 (H); Baring-Gould, S., II, 52,
54. |
201. |
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray. Thomson, W., I, No 2; Thomson, G.,
VI, 41; Smith, R., IV, 21; Graham, II, 96. |
203. |
The Baron of Brackley. Christie, I, 20 (C
b). |
204. |
Jamie Douglas ("O waly, waly"). Motherwell, No 9 (O);
Christie, II, 158; Thomson, W., I, No 34; Johnson, Nos 158, 446;
Ritson, S., I, 156; Graham, I, 100; Rimbault, 102; Smith, R., II,
1, VI, 62; Thomson, G., I, 19. |
206. |
Bothwell Bridge. Smith, R., III, 62; Scott, II,
246; Chambers, 26. |
208. |
Lord Derwentwater. Motherwell, No 4 (A). |
209. |
Geordie. Johnson, No 346 (A); Smith, R., II, 68
(A); Kinloch, to p. 187 (B b); Christie, I,
52 (J), II, 44 (H); Kidson, 25. |
210. |
Bonnie James Campbell. Smith, R., V, 42 (C). |
211. |
Bewick and Graham. Bruce, 25. |
212. |
The Duke of Athole's Nurse. Christie, I, 80
(F b). |
213. |
Sir James the Rose. Christie, I, 16. |
214. |
The Braes o Yarrow. Scott, III, 150 (E b);
Kidson, 22 (Q). |
215. |
Rare Willie Drowned in Yarrow. Thomson, W., II, No 49
(A); Ritson, S., I, 142 (A); Johnson, No 525
(A); Smith, R., VI, 76 (A); Christie, I, 64, 66
(E). |
216. |
The Mother's Malison, or, Clyde's Water. Christie, II, 250
(C). |
217. |
The Broom of Cowdenknows. Thomson, W., I, No 10; Barsanti,
13; Ritson, S., I, 118; Smith, R., II, 45; Thomson, G., III, 32;
Motherwell, No 10 (D); Christie, I, 126, 284; Chappell,
461. |
218. |
The False Lover won Back. Christie, 1, 144
(B). |
219. |
The Gardener. Kinloch, to p. 74 (A); Christie, II, 206
(B); Baring-Gould, S., IV, 52, No 108. |
221. |
Katherine Jaffray. Christie, II, 16. |
225. |
Rob Roy. Smith, R., I, 32 (G). |
226. |
Lizie Lindsay. Johnson, No. 434; Smith, R.,
II, 100, 101; Graham, II, 82; Christie, II, 88;
privately printed, Brighton, 1895 (H). |
227. |
Bonny Lizie Baillie. Johnson, No 456 (d);
Smith, R., IV, 90 (f). |
228. |
Glasgow Peggie. Christie, I, 70 (E). |
229. |
Earl Crawford. Christie, I, 68 (A). |
231. |
The Earl of Errol. Christie, I, 206; II, 40. |
232. |
Richie Story. Christie, I, 72 (G d). |
233. |
Andrew Lammie. Motherwell, No 28 (C b);
Christie, I, 48 (C). |
235. |
The Earl of Aboyne. Christie, I, 22 (B
a). |
236. |
The Laird o Drum. Kinloch, to p. 199 (A b);
Christie, I, 24. |
237. |
The Duke of Gordon's Daughters. Johnson, No 419 (a);
Smith, R., IV, 98 (a); Christie, I, 2. |
238. |
Glenlogie, or, Jean o Bethelnie. Smith, R., IV, 78 (I
b); Christie, I, 54 (E b), 282. |
239. |
Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie. Christie, I, 10
(B b). |
240. |
The Rantin Laddie. Johnson, No 462 (A a);
Smith, R., IV, 6 (A); Christie, I, 210 (A
b). |
241. |
The Baron o Leys. Johnson, No 237 (The Linkin
Ladie). |
243. |
James Harris (The Daemon Lover). Motherwell,
No 1 (F); Christie, I, 138. |
245. |
Young Allan. Christie, I, 252. |
247. |
Lady Elspat. Christie, I, 102. |
248. |
The Grey Cock, or, Saw you my Father? Johnson, No 76; Smith,
R., VI, 54 (a); Chappell, 731 (b); Graham, I, 102
(a). |
250. |
Henry Martyn. Kidson, 30 (B c), 31 (B
b); Baring-Gould, S., III, 2. |
251. |
Lang Johnny More. Christie, I, 44. |
252. |
The Kitchie Boy. Christie, I, 14. |
253. |
Thomas o Yonderdale. Christie, I, 96 (b). |
254. |
Lord William, or, Lord Lundy. Motherwell, No
19 (A). |
255. |
Willie's Fatal Visit. Christie, I, 218. |
257. |
Burd Isabel and Earl Patrick. Christie, II, 34
(B). |
260. |
Lord Thomas and Lady Margaret. Christie, II,
12 (B). |
265. |
The Knight's Ghost. Christie, II, 238. |
266. |
John Thomson and the Turk. Christie, II, 52. |
267. |
The Heir of Linne. Christie, I, 112 (B
c). |
269. |
Lady Diamond. Christie, II, 218. |
270. |
The Earl of Mar's Daughter. Christie, II, 38. |
271. |
The Lord of Lorn and the False Steward. Chappell, 230
(B). |
273. |
King Edward the Fourth and a Tanner of Tamworth. Chappell,
392 (?), 542(?). |
274. |
Our Goodman. Johnson, No 454 (A); Smith,
R., IV, 66 (A). |
275. |
Get up and Bar the Door. Ritson, S., I, 226 (A a);
Johnson, Nos 300 (A a), 365
(C); Smith, R., I, 62 (A); Thomson, G., II, 8;
Graham, II, 62 (A a); Christie, II, 262 (A
a). |
276. |
The Friar in the Well. Chappell, 274 (A). |
279. |
The Jolly Beggar. Thomson, W., I, 95, App. No 43; Ritson, S.,
I, 168; Johnson, No 266 (B a). |
280. |
The Beggar Laddie. Christie, I, 100 (D). |
281. |
The Keach i the Creel. Motherwell, No 29;
Bruce, 82 (A). |
282. |
Jock the Leg and the Merry Merchant. Christie,
I, 130. |
283. |
The Crafty Farmer. Chappell, 554 (c); Mason, 43
(f); Kidson, 141 (b); Baring-Gould, S., 3, 38
(c). |
284. |
John Dory. Ritson, A., 164; Chappell, 68. |
286. |
The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity). Gordon, II, 317
(B a); Christie, I, 238 (C c);
Baring-Gould, S., III, 24 (C d); Broadwood, 182
(C). |
289. |
The Mermaid. Motherwell, No 30 (E b); Chappell,
743 (B). |
293. |
John of Hazelgreen. Kinloch, to p. 206 (B);
Christie, I, 124. |
298. |
Young Peggy. Christie, II, 20. |
299. |
Trooper and Maid. Christie, II, 210 (A). |