A Collection of Strathspey Reels & Country Dances
by Bowie, John
Full title: A Collection of Strathspey Reels & Country Dances &c., with a bass for the Violoncello or Harpsichord, dedicated (By Permission) to the Right Honourable The Countess of Kinnoul
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
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)
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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.")
- A Collection of Strathspey Reels & Country Dances [University of Glasgow (GB-Gu), Ca12-x.56]