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A Fifth Collection of Strathspeys, Reels &c.
by Gow, Niel & Sons



Full title: A Fifth Collection of Strathspeys, Reels &c. For the Piano Forte, Harp, Violin & Violoncello Dedicated to the Right Honorable the Countess of Dalhousie by Niel Gow & Son's [sic]. Entered at Stationers Hall.

Publisher: Edinburgh: Niel Gow & Sons

Printer: Printed and Sold by J. Johnson Sculpt.

Date: [1809?]

Description:

Earliest copies were published by Gow & Sons, but by 1810, by Gow & Shepherd. Subsequently publications by Purdie, extending to 'Third Edition, Corrected & Improved by Nath: Gow' [c.1820-1830].
This third edition is reset but the notes seem identical. There is an Epistle 'To the Public' from Nathaniel on titlepage explaining how tunes were taken from Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion.
GB-Gu Ca11-y.31 has a few pencil markings, and is signed in small writing on p.14, 'Maggy Grey 1814'.

Notes:

There are two versions of an air 'to which the tunes of Ossian were sung', one pianistic with a second 'Under Bass by an Eminent Organist of London', and a Strathspey Time version. Thre are still some single note basslines, but much more pianistic material. 'Loudoun Castle' in E major bears the instruction to play in E flat on the harp. The 'Pic Nic' has sections by Nathaniel Gow, Mr Giornovichi, and Dr. Haydn , definitely for piano. There is a 'Celebrated Trumpet Tune' for 2 trumpets. Also 'An Original Gallic Air' by Col David Stewart, 'Dr Haydn's Strathspey' by Mr McIntyre, and a reel by William Clarke, organist. An Alberti bass 'very slow & pathetick' is provided for 'Farewell to Whisky'. The collection includes a later version of 'Largo's Fairy Dance' (when compared to the single sheet version).

RISM: G3255

Gore: G10-5

Biographical info: Niel Gow (1727-1807), father of the famous Gow family, lived in Inver near Dunkeld. (Glen 2, viii-xiv; Grove; Alburger; Murdoch, 41-48) Gow's fourth son Nathaniel (1763-1831), violinist and Edinburgh publisher, was perhaps the most famous of the siblings; but his brothers William, John and Andrew also traded in music (John and Andrew in London). Nathaniel's son, Niel Junr., lived 1795-1823.

Location(s):

GB-A
Aberdeen University Library
GB-Bu
Birmingham University Library
GB-Cu
Cambridge University Library
GB-DRu
University Library, Durham
GB-DUcl
Dundee Central Library (Wighton Collection)
GB-En
National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh
GB-Ep
Edinburgh City Library
GB-Eu
Edinburgh University Library
GB-Gm
Mitchell Library, Glasgow
GB-Grc
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
GB-Gu
University of Glasgow Library
GB-Lam
Royal Academy of Music, London
GB-Lbl
British Library, London
GB-Lcm
Royal College of Music, London
GB-Lcs
Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, Cecil Sharp House, London
GB-Mp
Manchester Public Library
GB-Mr
Manchester University Library
GB-NTu
Newcastle University Library
GB-Ob
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
GB-P
A K Bell Library, Perth
GB-SA
Saint Andrews University Library
GB-SHE
Sheffield University Library
IRL-Dn
National Library of Ireland, Dublin
IRL-Dtc
Trinity College Dublin

GB-DRu Fleming SF.387(a)
GB-DU
GB-En Glen 408(2) ([1809])
GB-Gm M8794 ([1808])
GB-Gm M8802 (3rd edition)
GB-Gu Ca11-y.31 (Gow & Shepherd, 1st edition with index, [pre-1811])
GB-Gu Ca12-y.35 (Purdie, 1st edition)
GB-Gu Ca12-y.36 (3rd edition corrected and improved by Nath. Gow. Purdie, [1820?])
GB-Gu Q.c.9 (3rd edition corrected and improved by Nath. Gow. Purdie, [1822-1825?])
GB-P Af42
GB-P Af26 (first edition, [1810])
GB-SA Finzi Collection 124 (Gow & Shepherd, [1809?])

    Digitised items

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