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Thomson (GEORGE a Scotch song collector)

GEORGE, a Scotch song collector; born in Limekilns, Scotland, March 4, 1757; was educated at Banff; removed to Edinburgh, where he was secretary to the "Board of Trustees for the Encouragement of Arts and Manufactures" (1780-1830). In 1792 he formed the idea of collecting every existing Scotch melody, and of giving to the world "all the fine airs both of the plaintive and lively kind." The result appeared in six volumes of Scotch songs, followed by two of Irish songs, and three of Welsh melodies. A large number of well-known authors were engaged to supply words to the melodies-among them Thomas Campbell, Professor Smyth, Sir Walter Scott, and Joanna Baillie but the most prolific writer was the poet Burns, who contributed over 120 songs to the collection. Besides the pianoforte accompaniment, according to Thomson's arrangement, each song was to have a prelude and coda, with accompaniments for violin, flute, and violoncello. For this portion of the work, Thomson secured the services of Pleyel, Kozeluch, Haydn, Beethoven (who received $2,750 for his share of the work), Mozart, Weber, Hummel, Hogarth, and Bishop. The first volume was published three years after the death of Burns.

He died in Leith, Scotland, Feb. 18, 1851.