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A Collection of Strathspey Reels & Country Dances
by Bowie, John



Tunes list



Copy details


Publisher

Edinburgh, John Bowie

Printer

James Johnson

Seller

Edinburgh, Stewart & Co, Corri & Sutherland, R. Ross, J. Bryson, & all the Music Sellers in Town & Country

Edition

[1st]

Date

1789

Library

University of Glasgow (GB-Gu)

Shelfmark

Ca12-x.56

Description

The collection beings with six country dances, and dance instructions, for 2 violins and bass. After the strathspeys and reels , there are sections of Irish tunes and 'Ancient Music' from the Highlands at the end, 'composed either for Religious Worship, or on Heroic Subjects'. Keith Sanger's notes on the harp tunes are at http://www.wirestrungharp.com/library/bowie_john.html Many musicians appear in the subscriber list, including Niel Gow and Robert Mackintosh. Farmer suggested the first edition is from 1789.

Notes

There is a tendency towards melodic flowing basslines; some tunes later in the book have pianistic chords, and one has bass figures.

Pages

35 p

Orientation

Portrait

Dimensions

34 x 24.5

RISM

B4031

Gore

B11

Biographical info

John Bowie (1759-1815) was a Perth musician and composer of dance tunes from 1785, commencing as a music-seller in 1803, in partnership with T. Hill. Bowie and his brother, piano-teacher Peter Bowie, gave annual balls. (Glen 1, xii-xiii)

Other locations

GB-A Per 200 Zei
GB-En Glen 265
GB-Gm M8700/786.45
GB-Lbl g.934.d(7)
GB-Lcs R180 (microfilm of GB-Lbl copy)
GB-P Be40
GB-DUcl H.10459 (reprint: Stewart & Co. [1789-92], includes subscriber list)
GB-Lbl g.229.q(1) (reprint: Stewart & Co. [1789-92])
GB-Gu Ca12-x.57 (reprint: Stewart & Co. [1789-92], pencil note from Henry Farmer: "It may have been published as late as 1792.")


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