Transcription notes for "A Collection of Old Scots Tunes", by Francis Barsanti, published 1742 in Edinburgh by Alexander Baillie. transcribed 2013 by John Chambers = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The individual tunes are in files with the name PPN_Tune_Title.abc, where PP is the page number, N is the tune number within the page, and the title has underscores separating the words. This gives a very readable system that puts the tunes in the same order as in the book. Perhaps it would be better to leave off the PPN_ part, giving us alphabetical order, and we wouldn't then want an index. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Some commented-out R: lines are included as guesses to the rhythm if used as dance tunes. All the tunes in this collection have the tempo "slow", and are intended as song tunes, but most are usable as dance tunes, too. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Several titles have 'I' instead of 'J' in names, e.g. "Iohnie Faa" and "Bonny Iean". I've included a second T: line with the 'J' spelling to help find the tunes in title searches. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The capitalization of titles is sometimes odd. Some have been changed to the more modern scheme of lower-case initial articles and the first "significant" word capitalized. This helps software use the right title in indexes. File names here use the same scheme. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Some of the tunes here don't use natural signs, but use the older method of flats to cancel sharps in the signature and vice-versa. These are transcribed as naturals ('=') to make the ABC work properly with current software. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = This book uses figured-bass notation, which ABC doesn't handle very well. The following kludges have been used to transcribe it: Vertical positioning is indicated by a semicolon, so "6;4" means a 6 and a 4 arranged vertically above the note. (Figured bass can be below the notes, but this publisher didn't do that.) Sharps can be indicated with "#", but flats are a problem. We can't use '_' in quotes for a flat sign, because it's already defined to position the quoted texta above the note/staff. So I've used 'b' in the figured bass for flats, as with ABC chords and keys. Also, a raised note (sharp or natural) is indicated in this book with a back-slash through a number, which we can't easily use in ABC, so I've used the equivalent "+" notation: "+6;4" means a raised sixth plus a (normal) fourth above the note. Similarly, '=' is used for a natural sign in the ABC figured-bass notation, as with notes. Changing notes such as suspensions or raised notes are drawn to the right of a number, and we can do the same. I've included a space when the music seems to show a separation. So "6;4 3" means a sixth and a 4th resolving to a 3rd; "6;4#" means a sixth and a 4th going to a raised 4th. And so on. The usual rules for omitted notes seem to apply here, so a 3rd and 5th should be generally assumed unless they clash with the given figured-bass notes. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =