Annotation:Myrtle (1) (The)

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MYRTLE, THE. Scottish, Air. Composed by James Oswald (1710-1769) c. 1761 as part of his suite of 48 'Airs', consisting of one air for each of twelve plants in each of four seasons. Not content with one such suite, Oswald composed another whole set for a total of 96 pieces of music.

The myrtle is a fabled plant in the British Isles. John Purser writes that the plant was dedicated to the goddess Venus, giving rise to the tradition in which young maids would place a sprig of myrtle under their pillows on St. John's Eve and fall asleep hoping to dream of their 'true love', thus insuring a union would come about. The bouquets of Royal Brides in Britain, says Purser, contains a sprig of the plant, grown from the planted sprig of myrtle that Queen Victoria carried in her own bridal bouquet.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources:

Recorded sources: Dorian Discovery 80164, Jeremy Barlow & the Broadside Band - "Airs For The Seasons - Floral Suites Of James Oswald" (1997). Redwing Music RWMCD 5410, Abby Newton - "Castles, Kirks and Caves" (2001. This is the third air from Oswald's second set for 'Summer').

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