Robert Archibald Smith (1780–1829) was a Scottish musical Ronantic composer, known for his collection ''Scotish Minstrel'', which began to appear in 1821.

Life

He was born on 16 November 1780.Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland: The Grampian Society, 1871 He was the son of Robert Smith, a silk-weaver from

East Kilbride East Kilbride (; gd, Cille Bhrìghde an Ear ) is the largest town in South Lanarkshire in Scotland and the country's sixth-largest locality by population. It was also designated Scotland's first new town on 6 May 1947. The area lies on a rais ...

who had moved to England, and was born at

Reading, Berkshire Reading ( ) is a town and borough in Berkshire, Southeast England, southeast England. Located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the rivers River Thames, Thames and River Kennet, Kennet, the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 mot ...

on 16 November 1780; his mother was Ann Whitcher. He was apprenticed in silk-weaving, joined a church choir in Reading, and played in the band of a volunteer regiment. In 1800 the family moved to Paisley in

Renfrewshire Renfrewshire () ( sco, Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Re ...

where father and son became

muslin Muslin () is a cotton fabric of plain weave. It is made in a wide range of weights from delicate sheers to coarse sheeting. It gets its name from the city of Mosul, Iraq, where it was first manufactured. Muslin of uncommonly delicate hands ...

weavers. Here he also became acquainted with

Robert Tannahill Robert Tannahill (3 June 1774 – 17 May 1810) was a Scottish poet of labouring class origin. Known as the 'Weaver Poet', he wrote poetry in English and lyrics in Scots in the wake of Robert Burns. Life Robert Tannahill was born in Castle St ...

with whom he began composing tunes to match his words. Smith joined a volunteer company, played in its band, and composed its marches and quick-steps. Becoming a teacher of music, he was in 1807 appointed leader of psalmody in Paisley Abbey. Robert Boog, the incumbent of the parish, introduced him to Walter Young, minister of

Erskine Erskine (, sco, Erskin, gd, Arasgain) is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire, and historic county of the same name, situated in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on the southern bank of the River Clyde, providing the l ...

, Renfrewshire, who helped him on harmony. In 1817 he conducted his first public performance of sacred music in the Abbey. In August 1823 Smith was appointed musical conductor (pre-cantor) in St. George's Church, Edinburgh, where the minister was

Andrew Mitchell Thomson Andrew Mitchell Thomson (1779–1831) was a minister of the Church of Scotland, known as an evangelical activist and political reformer. Life The second son of the Rev. John Thomson, D.D., by his first wife, Helen Forrest, he was born in the ma ...

. Employed in teaching, composing, and editing, his health failed, and he died at home, a flat at 11 Melville Place, near

Dean Bridge The Dean Bridge spans the Water of Leith in the city of Edinburgh on the A90 road to South Queensferry, Queensferry on the Firth of Forth. It carries the roadway, long and broad, on four arches rising above the river.H Coghill, ''Discover ...

in Edinburgh on 3 January 1829. He is buried in St Cuthbert's churchyard at the west end of Princes Street. The grave is marked by a small obelisk.

Works

In ''Devotional Music, original and selected'' (1810), 24 of the numbers are Smith's. His setting of his friend

's songs, especially ''Jessie, the Flow'r o' Dumblane'' (1816), made his reputation. His ''Scotish Minstrel, a selection from the vocal melodies of Scotland ancient and modern'', was published in six volumes, 1821–4, and reached a third edition, 1838–43; many of the anonymous melodies in it have been attributed to him. Songs by Tannahill, and others set by Smith, first appeared in this work. Other contributors included Robert Allan, Alexander Laing and John Ross. The ''Irish Minstrel'', with similar scope, appeared in one volume in 1825. In 1826 Smith published a practical manual, ''Introduction to Singing''. A first volume of Smith's uncompleted ''Select Melodies, with appropriate Words, chiefly original, selected and arranged, with Symphonies and Accompaniments for the Pianoforte'', appeared in 1827. Pieces by contemporary lyrists were anonymously set by Smith, including William Motherwell's ''Midnight Wind''. His other works were: * ''Sacred Music for the Use of St. George's, Edinburgh''. * ''The Sacred Harmony of the Church of Scotland'' (1820). * ''Sacred Music, consisting of Tunes, Sanctuses, etc., sung in St. George's Church'' (1825; other editions, 1830?, 1856, and 1867). * ''Anthems for George Heriot's Day''. His setting of the anthem ''How beautiful upon the mountains'' was often reprinted.

Family

Smith married, in 1802, Mary MacNicol, of Arran, who survived him with five children.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Robert Archibald 1780 births 1829 deaths Scottish composers People from Reading, Berkshire Musicians from Berkshire People from Paisley, Renfrewshire 19th-century Scottish musicians