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Robert Ross Select Collection for the Guittar
Robert Ross seems to have died in 1808 “at the age of 60”, according to John Glen in his forward to The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music (Edinburgh 1891). Certainly during the popularity of the wire-strung ‘guittar’ he was active as a music seller at various stores around what is now termed the Old Town of Edinburgh. He would have known Robert Bremner well, and have been impressed by Bremner’s sales figures for his Instructions.
Ross was familiar with the native song and tune repertoire, but also with the blossoming influence of Italian musical immigrants in Scotland’s capital. Other sources of material were the popular operettas of Covent Garden, selections from which were repeated at St Cecilia’s Hall in Edinburgh, under the auspices of the Edinburgh Musical Society. The Society was at its height during the era of Oswald and Bremner, fading - as did the popularity of the guittar - in the 1790s.
I have recorded most of the solos from the c.1775 publication, but a large number of songs await the modern guittar performer. I include only two songs (“The Coal Bearer” and “The Banks of Banna”) to give an idea of the treasures therein. The singer is Elly Smith, an amateur Edinburgh-based singer, which seemed more fitting than having a professional singer from London. The lyrics for “The Banks of Banna” (also known by its first line, “Shepherds I have lost my love”) were by the Irish poet and politician, Sir George Ogle the Younger (c.1740-1814). The Banna is a river in County Wexford. “The Coal Bearer” is a beautiful lament by a young female coal carrier, describing her life of hardship, from which her only relief would be marriage. The lyrics seem to be set to a Gaelic air, but I have been unable to trace the source. Note the common guittar accompaniment style of playing only the notes of the air. Contrast that with the fuller accompaniments found in ‘A New Selection of the Most admired Songs for the Guittar…by William Wilson” Edinburgh, c.1780. Yes, there is much repertoire yet to be explored for voice and guittar.
Recorded January 2013
Remastered by Doc Rossi
Cover photo: RobMacKillop©2025
Robert Ross seems to have died in 1808 “at the age of 60”, according to John Glen in his forward to The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music (Edinburgh 1891). Certainly during the popularity of the wire-strung ‘guittar’ he was active as a music seller at various stores around what is now termed the Old Town of Edinburgh. He would have known Robert Bremner well, and have been impressed by Bremner’s sales figures for his Instructions.
Ross was familiar with the native song and tune repertoire, but also with the blossoming influence of Italian musical immigrants in Scotland’s capital. Other sources of material were the popular operettas of Covent Garden, selections from which were repeated at St Cecilia’s Hall in Edinburgh, under the auspices of the Edinburgh Musical Society. The Society was at its height during the era of Oswald and Bremner, fading - as did the popularity of the guittar - in the 1790s.
I have recorded most of the solos from the c.1775 publication, but a large number of songs await the modern guittar performer. I include only two songs (“The Coal Bearer” and “The Banks of Banna”) to give an idea of the treasures therein. The singer is Elly Smith, an amateur Edinburgh-based singer, which seemed more fitting than having a professional singer from London. The lyrics for “The Banks of Banna” (also known by its first line, “Shepherds I have lost my love”) were by the Irish poet and politician, Sir George Ogle the Younger (c.1740-1814). The Banna is a river in County Wexford. “The Coal Bearer” is a beautiful lament by a young female coal carrier, describing her life of hardship, from which her only relief would be marriage. The lyrics seem to be set to a Gaelic air, but I have been unable to trace the source. Note the common guittar accompaniment style of playing only the notes of the air. Contrast that with the fuller accompaniments found in ‘A New Selection of the Most admired Songs for the Guittar…by William Wilson” Edinburgh, c.1780. Yes, there is much repertoire yet to be explored for voice and guittar.
Recorded January 2013
Remastered by Doc Rossi
Cover photo: RobMacKillop©2025