Balloon (1) (The)

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Theme code Index	1122 5226L
Also known as	Bolloon (The)
Composer/Core Source
Region	Scotland
Genre/Style	Scottish
Meter/Rhythm	Strathspey
Key/Tonic of	A
Accidental	3 sharps
Mode	Ionian (Major)
Time signature	4/4
History
Structure	AAB
Editor/Compiler	Biography:Alexander "King" McGlashan
Book/Manuscript title	Book:Collection of Reels (A)
Tune and/or Page number	p. 32
Year of publication/Date of MS	1786
Artist
Title of recording
Record label/Catalogue nr.
Year recorded
Media
Score ()

<abc float="left"> X:1 T:Bolloon (sic), The M:C| L:1/8 R:Strathspey S:McGlashan - Reels (c. 1786) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:A A<EA<c B>A B<c|e<c B>A B>A F2|A<EA<c B>AB>c|e<c B>c A/A/A A2:| A/a/g/a/ f/e/d/c/ d/e/f/e/ d/c/B/A/|B/c/d/c/ d/c/B/A/ B>G F2| A/a/g/a/ f/e/d/c/ d/e/f/g/ ac|B>ABc A/A/A A2|A/a/g/a/ f/e/d/c/ d/e/f/e/ d/c/B/A/| B/c/d/c/ d/c/B/A/ B>A F2|A<EA<c B>ABc|e<c B>c A/A/A A2|| </abc>

The strathspey "The Balloon" in McGlashan's 1786 collection perhaps refers to the first documented balloon ascent on British soil, in Edinburgh in August, 1784. A correspondent to the London Journal submitted this eyewitness account:

Edinburgh, Aug. 27, 1784.

Mr. Tytler has made several improvements upon his fire balloon. The reason of its failure formerly was its being made of porous linen, through which the air made its escape. To remedy this defect, Mr. Tytler has got it covered with a varnish to retain the inflammable air after the balloon is filled.

Early this morning this bold adventurer took his first aerial flight. The balloon being filled at Comely Garden, he seated himself in the basket, and the ropes being cut he ascended very high and descended quite gradually on the road to Restalrig, about half a mile from the place where he rose, to the great satisfaction of those spectators who were present. Mr. Tytler went up without the furnace this morning; when that is added he will be able to feed the balloon with inflammable air, and continue his aerial excursions as long as he chooses.

Mr. Tytler is now in high spirits, and in his turn laughs at those infidels who ridiculed his scheme as visionary and impracticable. Mr. Tytler is the first person in Great Britain who has navigated the air.

__NORICHEDITOR__