Tune Req: Burns Stanzas

03 Mar 00 - 06:53 PM (#189020)
Subject: Burns Stanzas
From: Bradypus

This question occured to me during Song Challenge 12, an I thought it worth asking more generally.

Is anyone aware of any tunes for typical Burns poetry, rather than his songs?

Many of his poems use a very distinctive pattern

A A A B A B

Where the A lines are 8 or 9 syllables long, and all rhyme, and the B lines are 4 or 5 syllables long, and rhyme with each other. The best known example is probably 'To a Mouse'

Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie
O, what a panic's in thy breastie
Thou need na start awa sae hasty
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!

My favourite is probably 'Holy Wullie's Prayer':

O, Thou that in the heavens does dwell!
Wha, as it pleases best Thysel,
Sends ane to heaven an ten to hell
A' for Thy glory;
And no for any guid or ill
They've done before thee!

My question is, have any of these verses, or verses in this style, been set to music? And if so, what is the tune like ?

Bradypus

---

04 Mar 00 - 02:51 AM (#189220)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Burns Stanzas
From: Margo

I'm not aware of any songs with Burns' poetry (other than his intended song lyrics, as you say). But it sure looks like a challenge!

---

04 Mar 00 - 05:48 AM (#189234)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Burns Stanzas
From: Calach

I've been a keen Burns student for a while, even set some of his poetry to music, but NEVER attempted that particular stanza shape.
Sorry.........calach

---