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First Book of Niel Gow's Reels, 2d edition
by Gow, Niel



Tunes list



Copy details


Publisher

Edinburgh, Gow & Son's [sic]

Printer

Edinburgh: Gow & Shepherd at their Music Shop, No.16 Princes Street; John Gow, No.31 Carnaby Street, Golden Square, London

Seller

Edinburgh: Gow & Shepherd at their Music Shop, No.16 Princes Street; John Gow, No.31 Carnaby Street, Golden Square, London

Edition

2d edition with considerable additions and valuable alterations

Date

1801

Library

Glasgow University Library (GB-Gu)

Shelfmark

Ca11-y.30

Description

The title of the first edition is A Collection of Strathspey Reels.

Notes

The basslines in this second edition are more active, and display a wider variety of styles - a comparison of 'Lamentation for [James Moray of] Abercarney' shows a huge change in musical character from the text of the first edition, in both tune and bass. Many of the alterations seem to have been made in order to make the music more suited to the piano: scordatura notation has been replaced, and the harmonic language made more functional and directional.

Copy notes

Copy is yellowed with some spotting, and the type used for the tune titles was somewhat worn. The copy is signed 'Capt Simpson' on p.36 - he also signed the titlepage of Complete Repository Part 1 in same bound vol., and the 2nd edition of Gow's book 2 bound in Ca11-y.31.

Pages

36 p

Orientation

Portrait

Dimensions

33 x 24.5

RISM

G3242

Gore

G10

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-A SB f 7864 Gow fi (2 copies)
GB-Bu M1746
GB-Eu Scott Stud Lib
GB-Lbl h.830.g.(1.)
GB-NTu RB781.50857941 GOW

'3rd edition, with considerable additions and valuable alterations' (Edinburgh: Purdie [1820-1837]):
GB-Ducl 10479
GB-Lbl h.830.a.(1.)
GB-Gu Q.c.9
GB-En Mus.41(1)