A Selection of the most Approved Highland Strathspeys
by Anderson, John

Full title: A Selection of the most Approved Highland Strathspeys, Country Dances, English & French Dances, with a Harpsichord & Violoncello Bass. Dedicated to the Gentlemen of the Musical Society of Greenock by John Anderson

Publisher: Edinburgh: Corri & Sutherland

Date: [1789?]

Description:

1st edition 1789' in pencil on titlepage of GB-Gu copy.

Notes:

This collection has a Greenock connection, and includes 'The Port Glasgow Assembly'. Single note basslines throughout. The book includes 'Invercauld's' with bass in D; also a variant version of Admiral Gordon's Strathspey (Marshall); and a few more exotic tunes: 'The German Spa' (also in McGlashan, McGoun, Aird, and Anderson vol.6) is supplied with Alberti bass. The basslines themselves are almost as repetitive as McGlashan's. In 'Lady Cunningham's Strathspey' (Nathaniel Gow), the bassline includes a quaver scale in 10ths and an obstinate refusal to follow the harmony of the tune.

Gore: A7-2

Link: British Library

Biographical info: Anderson lived 1737-1808, and died in Inverness (Baptie), but he moved round Scotland during his career. His first book, A Selection of the most Approved Highland Strathspeys was published in Edinburgh in 1789, dedicated to the Musical Society of Greenock. Another edition may have been later published in Perth (Alburger, 145), although this has not been verified. Anderson's Pocket Companion was published in Perth in 1795. Anderson's Budgets, published later in Edinburgh, postdate his death in Inverness as given by Baptie.

Location(s):

GB-A
GB-Cu MRA.360.75.11
GB-DUcl 10453
GB-En MH.4, Glen 355(1-2)
GB-Gu Ca11-y.21
GB-Lbl 2 copies g.833.f.(3.) & g.229.b.(1.)
GB-P Be50 26720#

Digitised items

This source has not been digitised.