[scots-l] Soldier's tunes

[Cynthia Cathcart]

I am making a study of the Angus Fraser Collection, and a couple of the tune titles have caught my eye. The titles are:

The Musket is my Lover
Soldier's address to his musket

Now, maybe the first is reflective of the way a soldier feels, out there in the fields of battle away from their wives and girlfriends. But, especially for the "address", I wonder if there might be some tune form that is or was recognized as something a soldier might perform before going into battle? For example, we have tunes for putting children to sleep (lullabies) might there be tunes for a soldier as he prays that his muskett won't miss-fire in battle?

Or am I trying to read some deep meaning into something where there is none? Any opinions?

--Cynthia Cathcart
http://www.cynthiacathcart.net/


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