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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-A
Aberdeen University Library
GB-Bu
Birmingham University Library
GB-Cu
Cambridge University Library
GB-DRu
University Library, Durham
GB-DUcl
Dundee Central Library (Wighton Collection)
GB-En
National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh
GB-Ep
Edinburgh City Library
GB-Eu
Edinburgh University Library
GB-Gm
Mitchell Library, Glasgow
GB-Grc
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
GB-Gu
University of Glasgow Library
GB-Lam
Royal Academy of Music, London
GB-Lbl
British Library, London
GB-Lcm
Royal College of Music, London
GB-Lcs
Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, Cecil Sharp House, London
GB-Mp
Manchester Public Library
GB-Mr
Manchester University Library
GB-NTu
Newcastle University Library
GB-Ob
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
GB-P
A K Bell Library, Perth
GB-SA
Saint Andrews University Library
GB-SHE
Sheffield University Library
IRL-Dn
National Library of Ireland, Dublin
IRL-Dtc
Trinity College Dublin

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.