Lyr Req: Earl of Moray

Subject: Lyric : Earl of Moray
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 06:34 PM

I've searched the DT Archive and found two entries for this song, both the same funnily enough. But the version I would like to get is that once sung by "Robin Hall and Jimmie McGregor in their recording days. Anyone got it please?

Subject: RE: Lyric : Earl of Moray
From: Abby Sale
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 07:50 PM

Hmmm. Have another look, if you will. EARLMUR2 looks like a very different version from EARLMURY to me. There aren't all that may different versions of it known.

Subject: RE: Lyric : Earl of Moray
From: GUEST,guinnesschik
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 08:27 PM

Try looking under "The Bonnie (or Bonny) Earl O' Morray". PM me if you don't find what you're looking for. I might be able to help.

Subject: RE: Lyric : Earl of Moray
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 09:32 PM

The one and only original first appeared with music in Orpheus Caledonius, II, 1733. How may 'improved' versions are there? Never mind, I don't really care about any of them.

Subject: RE: Lyric : Earl of Moray
From: oggie
Date: 26 Aug 00 - 11:54 AM

'The Singing Tradition of Child's Popular Ballads' by B H Bronson (Princetown University Press 1976 - sorry no ISBN Number in my copy) gives 4 versions with tunes plus a potted history of the printed and oral sources. I know 2 hybrid versions as well. The book is a superb source of different versions of the Child ballads.

If you can't find a copy message me and I'll copy the relevant pages.

All the best

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyric : Earl of Moray
From: JedMarum
Date: 26 Aug 00 - 02:28 PM

I believe this is the one you are looking for.

But you may try this and this too.

Subject: RE: Lyric : Earl of Moray
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Aug 00 - 02:36 PM

Except for several differences in spelling the text in Jed's first click on above (DT file EARLMURY) is identical to that in 'Orpheus Caledonius', II, p. 8, 1733.
If you look at the 6 texts in Bronson's 'The Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads', you see that the only Scots one later than that in 'Orpheus Caledonius' is one of the 1870s, whose tune was presumeably traditional, but whose text was from the reprint in 'The Tea Table Miscellany'. The other four are from the US in the 20th century. It's obvious that all are derived from the text in 'Orpheus Caledonius' (with rather trivial variations). Thompson's text had been reprinted in several places in the 18th century and later. There is no evidence for any independent version of the ballad. The 'Orpheus Caledonius' version is the one and only original.