A Collection of Scots Reels
by Riddell, John

Full title: A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances and Minuets With two Particular Slow Tunes with a Bass for the Violin [sic] Violincello or Harpsichord; Composed by John Riddle at Ayr

Publisher: Edinburgh

Edition: [1st]

Date: [1766?]

Description:

Beautiful, slightly naive engraving style.
'Miss Charlote Ker's Minuet' has first violin printed above the second in the 1st edition, and the second part above the first (also suitable for piano plus violin accompaniment?) in the 2nd edition.

Notes:

A typed index in the GB-Gu copy of the 2nd edition comparing the two editions is by Davidson Cook, who sold this unique copy of the 1st edition to GB-En for £10 (less discount) on 1/10/37, according to a loose sheet in the copy. The note also says that this 'is the earliest collection of Scots Dance Music bearing the name of the composer on its titlepage'. Although the first edition claims to have been entered at Stationers Hall, this is not substantiated by extant records. (Alburger, 137-38)

RISM: R1373

Gore: R5

Biographical info: John Riddell (1718-95) was a fiddler and composer of reels and a couple of songs, associated with Ayr. He was described as 'musician' in the parish death register, and may have been blind. (Glen 1, viii-ix)

Location(s):

GB-En F.5.f.33

Digitised items

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