The British Musical Biography

[E] Thomson, William, Scottish musician,
son of Daniel Thomson, King's Trumpeter in
Edinburgh. He went to London, and became
known as a singer. Published " Orpheus
Caledonius, or a collection of the best Scotch
songs set to Musick by W. Thomson," London
[1725] ; Second edition, London, 1733, 2 vols.
This is the earliest printed collection of Scots
songs with music and contains 50 melodies.
The selection issued by John Playford in 1700
as " Collection of original Scotch tunes," is
without the lyrics, which in Thomson's case,
were x^ilfered from Ranisay's " Tea table mis-
cellany " without acknowledgment.

entry id: 412-L-50