A Collection of New Reels, Strathspey's, Jigs, Waltz &c
by Robertson, Daniel

Full title: A Collection of New Reels, Strathspey's [sic], Jigs Waltz &c. for the Piano Forte, Harpsichord & Violin, with a Bass for the Violoncello, Composed and Dedicated by Permission to Miss Georgine Scott of Seabank by Daniel Robertson

Publisher: Edinburgh: Muir Wood & Co. No. 7 Leith Street.

Printer: By the Author

Date: [c.1805]

Description:

On the GB-Gu copy, Robertson's name is not printed on the titlepage, but appears written in ink in the space above the publisher's names. This copy was signed in ink 'Ann Bell. 1808.' and later annotated 'WM [watermark] 1802' in pencil.

Either there was an earlier self-published edition bearing Robertson's name, or if Muir, Wood & Co.'s edition was the first, they simply omitted it from the titlepage by mistake. The copy in the Shand collection at GB-DUcl has Robertson's name printed, and to make space for it, Muir Wood's publisher credit has been moved to replace the earlier 'Printed by the Author' text. (Thanks to Nigel Gatherer for examining the Shand copy.)

Notes:

The first page has a pianistic 'Valtz' with arpeggiated bass, followed by a strathspey with 4-beat bassline, both in E flat.
On p.2, 'Miss Elizabeth Hamilton's Favorite Waltz' has quite well crafted piano variations, and there are more waltzes with piano variations later in the book, some reminiscent of Mackintosh.
Jigs tend to have quaver broken chords in the bass. There are plenty of strathspeys, some marked slow, more like slow airs.
Reels, Waltzes and Strathspeys are increasingly intermingled as the book progresses, with a few short sets of piano variations, perhaps more reminiscent of the 1790s.

Gore: R9

Biographical info: Robertson was active ca.1810-56, according to Copac records.

Location(s):

GB-A Hend inst Rob c
GB-DUcl 10450
GB-En Glen 356
GB-Gu Ca12-x.46
GB-Ob Harding Mus. F 139

Digitised items

This source has not been digitised.