The Complete Repository, Part 4
by Gow, Niel & Sons

Full title: Part fourth of The complete repository of original Scots slow strathspeys and dances (the dances arranged as medleys) for the harp, piano-forte, violin and violoncello &c. / respectfully dedicated to the nobility and gentry, of Scotland, by Niel Gow & Sons

Publisher: Edinburgh: published for the Proprietors

Date: [1817?]

Description:

The Complete Repository was published in four parts by Nathaniel Gow in partnership initially (1799-1813) with William Shepherd in Edinburgh, 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, when the title was extended to advertise “the dances arranged in medley’s [sic] in their respective keys”. William Shepherd ceased trading in 1813; Gow subsequently had it engraved and printed by Walker and Anderson (1815-1816), 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. (See SBTI and Kidson.)
The first part ran to four editions, and the subsequent parts to three, with some slight changes in titles. Notably, Part 2 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 the ‘jigs’ were dropped from the title. The music was re-engraved for Purdie’s third edition, but looks almost identical – see extant copies and IMSLP digitisation. At the same time, some copies were now designated as for ‘piano-forte or harp’, rather than the earlier ‘harp [or] piano-forte, violin and violoncello.'
There are in excess of 60 copies in Copac alone, and many more in WorldCat.

Notes:

By Part 4, the settings are becoming pianistic if still simple in style: two tunes have violin accompaniments (one by 'the immortal HAYDN'). 'The Flowers (Magistrates) of Edinburgh', still a slow tune. Index is missing from IMSLP, and addresses are different at the bottom of titlepage. The GB-Gm copy was sold by John Gow; it has his signature on the titlepage; the IMSLP copy has Nathaniel's signature on the first page of music.
A really interesting compilation.

RISM: G3258(4)

Gore: G11-2

Link: IMSLP (Gow editon)

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.

Location(s):

GB-Cu
GB-Eu
GB-Gm M8786
GB-Gu Ca12-y.38
GB-Gu Q.c.9
GB-Gu Ca12-y.39
GB-Lbl
GB-Ob
GB-P Af22
GB-P Af25
GB-P Af38
GB-SHE

further copies in COPAC and WorldCat

Digitised items

This source has not been digitised.