A Favorite Set of Quadrilles
by Gow, John

Full title: A favorite set of quadrilles: composed of admired Scotch airs, and peculiarly well adapted for the French figures. Arranged for the piano forte … by John H. Gow. [1st set]

Publisher: London: John Gow

Printer: J. H. Gow

Date: [1818?]

Description:

The end of the Napoleonic Wars (Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1815), led to a surge of enthusiasm for French dances in Britain. In London, S. Chappell, James Paine and Edward Payne seem to have kicked off the trend, closely followed by John Gow. His brother Nathaniel simultaneously published quadrilles in Edinburgh from 1817.
John published six 'favorite' sets of quadrilles, c.1818-1823 (the fifth set drops 'favorite' from the title but instead has 'Fifth set of admired quadrilles'); all contained 'Scotch airs', as did his First set of favorite Scotch quadrilles (1823), and two sets of Caledonian quadrilles (published in London by Leoni Lee c.1844).

Notes:

The set includes dance instructions in French throughout.

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-Gu Ca12-y.44
GB-Gu Ca12-y.45
GB-Gu Store HQ01630
GB-Lbl h.830.(19.)
GB-Ob Mus. Instr. I, 100 (11)
GB-SA SM1.A4M6; 233

Digitised items

This source has not been digitised.