The Complete Repository, Part 1
by Gow, Niel & Sons
Tunes list
- The Highland Watch, now the 42d. Regt. or Royal Highlanders Strathspey. (p. 1)
- South and North, or both sides of the Tweed, a Strathspey. (p. 2)
- Struan Robertson's Rant, a Strathspey (p. 2)
- Lewis Gordon. (p. 2)
- Carrack's Rant a Strathspey, The old Scotch Song of Mary Scott is taken from this Tune. (p. 3)
- Aldavaloch - or o'er the moor amang the heather. (p. 3)
- MacPherson's Lament (p. 4)
- Is your Graith in order, or the whipman's Rant, a Strathspey. (p. 4)
- Lord Eglintoun's auld man., a Strathspey. (p. 4)
- Miss Admiral Gordon's Strathspey by Mr. Marchall. (p. 5)
- Watson's Scotch Measure, A very old Tune. (p. 5)
- Tibby Fowler o' the Glen, a Strathspey. (p. 6)
- Port a Bhodich. or the Carles Rant. (p. 6)
- The Original Sett of Killecrankie. (p. 7)
- Lord Banff's Strathspey. (p. 7)
- The Lassie with the yellow Cottie Strathspey. (p. 7)
- Coll. Mc. Bain's Reel. (p. 8)
- Lord Kelly's Strathspey (p. 8)
- The Braes of Tullymet, a Strathspey. (p. 8)
- Sir Ronald Mc. Donalds Reel. (p. 9)
- The Marquis of Huntleys Strathspey. by Mr Marchall (p. 9)
- Captain Keelers Reel. (p. 9)
- The Bober's o' Brechin, a Reel. by Mr. Marchall. (p. 10)
- Monny Musk, a Strathspey by D.D. (p. 10)
- Petty Coat loose, a Jig. (p. 10)
- Thro' the Wood of Favie, a Reel. (p. 11)
- Don Side, a Strathspey. (p. 11)
- Whistle o'er the leave o't, a Strathspey. (p. 12)
- Cadgers of the Cannongate, a Reel. (p. 12)
- Green grows the Rashes, a Reel. (p. 12)
- Duke of Gordons birth day, a Strathspey. (p. 12)
- Dumfries House. A Gig by Jo:Riddle. (p. 13)
- Mary Gray. a Reel. (p. 13)
- The Lassie wi' the yellow Cottie. a Reel (p. 14)
- Sodger Laddie. a Gig. (p. 14)
- The Auld wife ayont the fire. a Reel. (p. 14)
- Delven Side. a Strathspey (p. 15)
- The Campbell's are coming. a Gig. (p. 15)
- Duke of Perth's Reel. (p. 15)
- Bog on Lochan or Athole Cummers. a Strathspey. (p. 16)
- Miss Flora McDonald's Reel (p. 16)
- Sweet Molly. a Reel. (p. 17)
- Lord Kilmaur's Reel. (p. 17)
- I hae a wife o' my ain. (p. 17)
- Rothemurchue's Rant. a Strathspey. (p. 18)
- Rory Mac Nab. a Reel. (p. 18)
- Moll in the Wadd. a Jig. (p. 18)
- Fight about the fire side. a Reel. (p. 19)
- The Merry Lads of Air. Reel. by John Riddle. (p. 19)
- Welcome to your feet again. a Strathspey. by John Riddle (p. 19)
- The Braes of Auchtertyre. a Reel. (p. 20)
- I'll make you fain to follow me. Jig. (p. 20)
- Lady Home's Jig. (p. 21)
- Bung Your Eye. a Jig. (p. 21)
- The Highland man kiss's his Mother. (p. 21)
- Brose and Butter (p. 22)
- What the D_ _ l ails you. a Reel. (p. 22)
- Mackenzie's Rant. a Strathspey (p. 22)
- Bonny Annie (p. 22)
- Lord Alexr. Gordon's. Strathspey. (p. 23)
- Because he was a bonny Lad &c. a Reel. (p. 23)
- The Ranting Highland man. a Reel. (p. 23)
- Greigs Pipes. a Reel. (p. 24)
- The Marquis of Huntlys Farewell. a Strathspey. (p. 24)
- Gordon Castle. a Strathspey. (p. 24)
- Fill the Stoup. a Reel. (p. 25)
- The Reel of Tulloch. (p. 25)
- Lady Nelly Wemys's Jig. (p. 25)
- Borlams. Strathspey. (p. 26)
- Birks of Abergeldy. a Reel. (p. 26)
- John Roy Stewart. a Strathspey. (p. 26)
- The Braes of Balqudder. a Reel. (p. 27)
- Dainty Davie. a Strathspey. (p. 27)
- I'll gang nae mair to yon town. a Reel. (p. 28)
- Let us to the Aird. a Strathspey. (p. 28)
- Johnny Mc. Gill. a Jig. (p. 28)
- Earl of Marshall. a Reel. (p. 28)
- Lennox's love to Blantyre. a Reel. (p. 29)
- Woo'd and Married and a'. (p. 29)
- The Whigs of Fife. a Reel. (p. 29)
- The Cameronian Rant. a Reel. (p. 30)
- Miss Murray of Auchtertyre's Strathspey. By John Bowie. (p. 30)
- Miss Ann AEmelia Stuart's Strathspey. By D. Mackintyre. (p. 30)
- Mrs. Garden of Troup's Strathspey By Pettrie. (p. 31)
- Athole House. a Reel. D.D. (p. 31)
- Lady Harriot Hope. a Reel. (p. 31)
- Drown Drought. a Jig. (p. 32)
- Isle of Sky. a Reel. (p. 32)
- Brechin Castle. a Strathspey. (p. 32)
- Miss Vearie Hay. a Reel. by D.D. (p. 32)
- Back of the Change House. a Reel. (p. 33)
- The Ruffians Rant. a Strathspey. (p. 33)
- Jenny Dang the Weaver. a Reel. (p. 34)
- Duncan Davidson. a Strathspey. (p. 34)
- Strathglass House. a Strathspey (p. 34)
- My wife is a wanton wee thing. a Jig. (p. 35)
- The Lasses of Stewarton. a Reel. (p. 35)
- Andrew Carr. a Jig. (p. 36)
- Jennys Bawbee. a Reel. (p. 36)
- Humours of Dublin. a Jig. (p. 36)
- The Boganuadh. or the New Bob. a Reel. (p. 37)
- The North Bridge of Edinburgh. a Strathspey. (p. 37)
- Tail Todle. a Reel. Supposed Welsh. (p. 37)
- Sleepy Maggie. a Reel. (p. 38)
- Brisk Bob. a Strathspey (p. 38)
- The Old Country Bumpkin. (p. 38)
Copy details
Publisher
Edinburgh, Gow & Shepherd, 16 Princes Street
Printer
Gow & Shepherd
Seller
Edinburgh, Gow & Shepherd, 16 Princes Street; London, John Gow, 31 Carnaby Street, Golden Square
Edition
Second
Date
[1805]
Library
Glasgow University Library (GB-Gu)
Shelfmark
Ca.11-y.30
Description
The Complete Repository was published in four parts by Nathaniel Gow in partnership initially with William Shepherd in Edinburgh (1799-1813), and also sold by Nathaniel’s brother John in London after c.1805. Around this time they published a second edition of the first part, where the title was extended to advertise “the dances arranged in medley’s [sic] in their respective keys”. Gow had the book engraved and printed by Walker and Anderson (1815-1816) after William Shepherd ceased trading in 1813, then entered partnership with Robert Purdie at some stage until the early 1820s. He published with J M Galbraith in 1826-1828, and Alexander Robertson in the 1830s (SBTI, and Kidson). The first part ran to four editions, and the subsequent parts to three, with some slight changes in titles. Part Second was entitled 'Complete Repository of Original Scots Tunes Strathspeys Jigs and Dances', until Purdie’s early 1820s editions, 'corrected and improved by Nathaniel Gow', when ‘Jigs’ were dropped from the title. The music was re-engraved for Purdie’s third edition, but looks almost identical.
Notes
From the 2nd edition, p.1: 'In presenting the present to the Public, which is the first time those tunes in the Stile as played by Niel Gow and Sons have been in print, it has been the Object of the Publishers to preserve them for the Amateurs of that Stile of Music in their native Simplicity, and free from the Corruption of Whim or Caprice.' p.8: 'The following are a choice Collection of the best original Scots Dances, arranged as Medleys, A Strathspey and Reel following alternately in their respective Keys, as the frequent changing the Key more or less has been found to offend the Ear. The Publishers thought it proper to keep the Slow Tunes by themselves, that they might not interrupt the Medleys. [...] The Tunes in the Medley’s [sic] marked thus *** may be played Slow when not danced.' The accompaniments mostly offer simple basslines: single lines, octaves, and dyads; and some small piano notes. One slow strathspey (‘Strathglass House’, p.34) is ‘Not to be Danced, as it ought to have been amongest the Slow Tunes at the begining of the Book, but was omited' [sic]. The first and second edition titlepages have, 'NB. 80 of the Tunes will suit the German Flute and the whole may be adapted for Military Bands.' This rubric is not in parts 2-4. The second edition has been reset with very slight differences in the text from the first: slurs have been added, and the spacing is less elegant. From the second edition onward, ‘The Braes of Tullymet’ has natural signs on the trills to counteract the E flats implied by the 'G minor' key signature.
Pages
38 p
Orientation
Portrait
Dimensions
33 x 24.5
RISM
G3257
Gore
G11-2A
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.
Other locations
GB-Gu Ca12-y.37 (2nd & 3rd edition)
GB-Gu Ca12-y.38 (2nd edition)
GB-Gu Ca12-y.39 (1st edition)
GB-GU Ca12-y.40 (2nd edition)
GB-Gm 8783 (1st edition)
GB-Gm 8787 (1st edition, signed by Miss Isabella Murdoch in 1809; not the first impression as it mentions Part Second)
GB-Gm 8788 (3rd edition: Purdie, 70 Princes Street [1815-1827])
GB-Gm 8789 (3rd edition: Purdie, 83 Princes Street [c.1828-37] - a pencil note refers to Humphries and Smith for date information)
Numerous other extant copies: locations include
GB-A
GB-Bu
GB-Cu
GB-DRu Fleming SF.538(b)
GB-En
GB-Eu
GB-Ob
GB-Lam
GB-SA Finzi Collection
GB-SHE