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with a prompt and unconditional permission to use, or extract from, his publications to any extent, but by an offer of co-operation of any other kind that might be needed.
Copious as were the resources thus liberally opened to the Editor, it will be seen that they were not the only ones to which he has had access, and occasion to resort. Not to say that much in Mr. ChappelFs work is, as a very condition of its existence as national melody, familiar even "as household words," some, if not many, songs of much interest have not found their way into it,—simply because no book can contain everything. The authorities for these as well as all other pieces, whether of words or music, contained in this volume are specified at the foot of each; more detailed information, where needed, being given in the concluding notes.
Though nothing that can be compared with the research and critical acumen of Mr. Chappell has been brought to bear upon it, Scottish song has long been, to the natives of Scotland, an object of far greater pride and attention than has English song to our own countrymen. Collections of Scottish melodies are both numerous and copious,—too copious in many instances; since they include both a good deal hardly worthy of preservation, and also not a little the nationality of which (always doubtful) more careful inquiry must have resulted in assigning to South Britain or Ireland. That not a few so-called Scottish melodies are possibly or certainly Irish has been long known to, and admitted by, the Scotch themselves ; but that the terms Northern, and even Scottish, have often been applied to their own songs by the English, and that a considerable number of pieces, which have found their way into Scottish collections, had been in print as well as in large circulation in England long before (though it might be with slight variations, not of structure, but of surface), are truths, the demonstration of which we owe to Mr. Chappell. Not that the Scotch alone have profited in this way. It is certain also that many favourite Irish melodies have either been pieced together from fragments of English material, or stolen ready made. |
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