A Collection of Curious Scots Tunes
by Oswald, James
Full title: A Collection of Curious Scots Tunes for a Violin, German Flute or Harpsichord by Mr. James Oswald
Publisher: London: Printed for & sold by J. Simpson at ye Bass Viol & Flute in Sweeting’s Alley opposite the East Door of ye Royal Exchange
Date: [1745]
Description:
Mary-Jannet Leith (2024, 76-77 & 225) has established that this collection was published in 1745, after 'A Second Collection of Curious Scots Tunes'. While it has some material in common with the Edinburgh 'Curious Collection' of 1740, it was substantially revised to better suit Oswald's London customers.
There is a later reprint, c. 1769-76:
London: Chas. and Saml. Thompson in St Pauls Church Yard.
Notes:
The following Thompson reprints which bear the titlepage of 'A Collection of Curious Scots Tunes' are in fact 'A Second Collection of Curious Scots Tunes':
GB-A
GB-Lbl h.342.b (both volumes bound together, with titlepages swapped)
RISM: O182
Gore: O1
Biographical info: Oswald was born in Crail in 1710, and died in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, in 1769. He was a musician and dancing master in Dunfermline, then went to Edinburgh, where he was a composer, publisher, cellist, and teacher. He moved to London in 1741, where he was a well-connected teacher, publisher, active in Society of the Temple of Apollo, and appointed Chamber Composer to the king in 1761. (Alburger; Grove)
- 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-DUcl 21262
GB-En Glen 310
GB-Lbl g.265.b
GB-Lbl h.342; h.342.b (Thompson reprint: both h.342 and h.342.b bear the titlepage of 'A Second Collection of Curious Scots Tunes')
GB-Ob Harding Mus. L 14 (1)
GB-Ob Harding Mus. F 134 (1)
GB-P Be20
GB-P O13 (Edinburgh reprint 1782?)
Digitised items
This source has not been digitised.