introduction

'Robt. Tannahill' by Alexander Walker, 1825

Robert Tannahill (1774-1810)

Please note that the content of this website is now scheduled for incorporation into my new, bigger, better website on Scottish music: www.scotmus.com

The Complete Tannahill is an online archival resource dedicated to the work and life of the Scots songwriter and poet, Robert Tannahill.

The project aims to digitise and make available the artist's entire catalogue of work, along with a diverse range of additional source materials. Currently still a work-in-progress project, the term complete in the site's title is thus rather more "poetic" than concrete — at least for now!

While Tannahill held his place in the nineteenth century as second only to Robert Burns in Scottish songwriting, knowledge of his work has since diminished, although several key songs remain well-known and widely performed. It is thus hoped that by providing the first contemporary "complete" Tannahill, this website will allow a detailed critical reassessment, as well as providing performers with access to lesser-known pieces.

Initially, the majority of the material will be drawn from the 1825 Glasgow collection of Tannahill's poems and songs and R.A. Smith's The Scotish Minstrel (c.1821-1824), while the long-term aim is to publish everything contained in all of the extant non-copyright editions.