A Fifth Collection of Strathspeys, Reels &c.
by Gow, Niel & Sons
Full title: A Fifth Collection of Strathspeys, Reels &c. For the Piano Forte, Harp, Violin & Violoncello Dedicated to the Right Honorable the Countess of Dalhousie by Niel Gow & Son's [sic]. Entered at Stationers Hall.
Publisher: Edinburgh: Niel Gow & Sons
Printer: Printed and Sold by J. Johnson Sculpt.
Date: [1809?]
Description:
Earliest copies were published by Gow & Sons, but by 1810, by Gow & Shepherd. Subsequently publications by Purdie, extending to 'Third Edition, Corrected & Improved by Nath: Gow' [c.1820-1830].
This third edition is reset but the notes seem identical. There is an Epistle 'To the Public' from Nathaniel on titlepage explaining how tunes were taken from Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion.
GB-Gu Ca11-y.31 has a few pencil markings, and is signed in small writing on p.14, 'Maggy Grey 1814'.
Notes:
There are two versions of an air 'to which the tunes of Ossian were sung', one pianistic with a second 'Under Bass by an Eminent Organist of London', and a Strathspey Time version. Thre are still some single note basslines, but much more pianistic material. 'Loudoun Castle' in E major bears the instruction to play in E flat on the harp. The 'Pic Nic' has sections by Nathaniel Gow, Mr Giornovichi, and Dr. Haydn , definitely for piano. There is a 'Celebrated Trumpet Tune' for 2 trumpets. Also 'An Original Gallic Air' by Col David Stewart, 'Dr Haydn's Strathspey' by Mr McIntyre, and a reel by William Clarke, organist. An Alberti bass 'very slow & pathetick' is provided for 'Farewell to Whisky'. The collection includes a later version of 'Largo's Fairy Dance' (when compared to the single sheet version).
RISM: G3255
Gore: G10-5
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.
- 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
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- Newcastle University Library
- GB-Ob
- Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
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- A K Bell Library, Perth
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- Saint Andrews University Library
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- Sheffield University Library
- IRL-Dn
- National Library of Ireland, Dublin
- IRL-Dtc
- Trinity College Dublin
GB-DRu Fleming SF.387(a)
GB-DU
GB-En Glen 408(2) ([1809])
GB-Gm M8794 ([1808])
GB-Gm M8802 (3rd edition)
GB-Gu Ca11-y.31 (Gow & Shepherd, 1st edition with index, [pre-1811])
GB-Gu Ca12-y.35 (Purdie, 1st edition)
GB-Gu Ca12-y.36 (3rd edition corrected and improved by Nath. Gow. Purdie, [1820?])
GB-Gu Q.c.9 (3rd edition corrected and improved by Nath. Gow. Purdie, [1822-1825?])
GB-P Af42
GB-P Af26 (first edition, [1810])
GB-SA Finzi Collection 124 (Gow & Shepherd, [1809?])
Digitised items
This source has not been digitised.