From the National Archives
Document of the Month - June
A handwritten book of fiddle music from the 19th century
includes the tunes 'God Save the King'; 'Lady Hunter's
Jigg'; 'Duncan Davidson'; Struen Robertson, a Strathspey
and Mrs Baillie of Mellerstone by Nath. [Nathaniel]
Gow.
The 18th and early 19th century brought a great increase
in the popularity of Scottish country dance music from the
lively reels and jigs to the slower 'strathspeys'. The 18th
century saw the development of the fiddle player as an
important addition to any Scottish social function and
particularly talented individuals rose to considerable
fame.
Niel Gow (1727-1807), a self-taught fiddle player and
melody writer, known as the 'Father of strathspeys and reel
players' became Scotland's best known musician and a
household name. The Dukes of Atholl were his patrons and he
was constantly in demand for important balls.
As well as the metaphorical 'Father of … ' tag, Gow
literally fathered and taught three musical sons the
youngest of whom, Nathaniel (1766-1831) was appointed one
of His Majesty's Herald Trumpets of Scotland and became the
leading musical figure of Edinburgh. Nathaniel set up a
music publishing company in reaction to the increasing
popularity of Scottish dance tunes, helping to popularise
and preserve melodies that Scots all over the world still
dance to today.
The book (Ref:
GD1/483/1) came to the National Archives
of Scotland as part of a small private collection. The two
volumes of musical notation includes melodies by the Gows.
One volume has the inscription 'Andrew McKenzie, Musician,
Cromarty, 2 Feb. 1833' on the cover.
Documents of the Month in 2003
January
A gift from a
child queen
February
A
frozen dinner to remember
March
Fate
summons the Maid of Norway
April
A
military guide to nose blowing
May
Miners' strike 1920s style
Documents of the Month in 2002
May
Treaty of Perpetual Peace
June
Register of Sasines
July
Architectural sketch of seaside shelter
August
The shirt with a message in Hindustani
September
Letter to Charles II in 1664
October
18th century map of Africa
November
Murder in Appin 1752
December
Plight of the
orphaned bairn
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