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Scottish Music Book Resources

General sources for Scottish Music:

Fiddler's Crossing, founded by Jan Tappan, is a good source for a lot of musical traditions; but the site is especially important to us for its Musicopy service, where it publishes facsimile reproductions of old texts. In some cases, this is the only version available. In others, it's the best way to see the collection in its original form, especially where the music has been reset in recent years. Their webstore does not support stable links, so for this website, I'll link to the main page, and tell you how to navigate to the items in question. Taigh na Teud is a prolific publisher of Scottish music of all types, and their store has an excellent selection of older music books in reprint. Highland Music Trust is one of the main forces behind recent reprintings of the major 18th/19th century collections. Many of their books can be found elsewhere, but you can also get them in their own webstore. They also maintain a lot of free downloadable versions of rarer collections. Hardie Press is a publisher of many books, including some truly classical Scottish compositions, but for our purposes is mainly known as the publisher of The Hunter Collection, Alasdair, Bill and Ian Hardie's books, and the tunes of Shetland composer Tom Anderson. They also have a paperback edition of David Johnson's essential study, Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century: A Musical Collection and Historical Study, among other great books. Cranford Publications, in Cape Breton, founded by Paul Cranford, is the dominant publisher of the music composed and played on the island. Paul also keeps a number of Scottish tunebooks in stock, notably Simon Fraser's collection. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music is a good overall source for Scottish music recordings and books.

Specific Older Music Collections: (The links I give may not be the only sources; I try to give the main ones, or at least several options, when I have them handy)

Adam Craig, 1730, The Adam Craig Collection, go to home > Scottish Tune Books > Scottish Collections. This is one of the older collections currently available, in a Musicopy facsimile. James Oswald, 1740s, The Caledonian Pocket Companion, on CD-rom, collects the major works of Scottish composer, Royal court musician, and Jacobite spy Oswald. William MacGibbon, 1746, A Collection of Scots Tunes. One of the seminal mid-18th century collections. Available as a free downloadable PDF. Robert Bremner, 1757, A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances. Another of the seminal mid-18th century collections. Available as a free downloadable PDF. John Riddell, c. 1766 (2nd ed. 1782), Collection of Scots Reels, Minuets etc. An excellent mid-18th century collection. Available as a free downloadable PDF. Daniel Dow, c. 1775, The Daniel Dow Collection. This digital book includes not only Dow's "light" music, but some of his fiddle piobarieachds. James Aird, 1778-, The Aird Collections. One of the most important general collections of Scottish tunes up until Kerr's, a century later. Available here in .abc format and a CD-ROM with multiple formats (.abc, .gif, .midi). William Marshall, Marshall Collections, 1781-1845. These are the complete music collections of Marshall, reset into a modern edition by the Highland Music Trust. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. A reproduction of the original editions from Fiddlecase books can be found at Amazon, or at Cranford Publications. Robert MacKintosh, The MacKintosh Collection, 1783-1803, The complete collections of MacKintosh, reset into a modern edition by the Highland Music Trust. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. Also, the original edition is available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition. Go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. Patrick McDonald, 1784, The Patrick McDonald Collection. This is one of the classic older collections of Highland airs and dances. Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. Niel Gow & Sons, Gow's Collections of Strathspey Reels, 1784-1822, This is predominantly made up of tunes the Gows' and their friends' original compositionms, and is a must-have for anyone interested in their work. Available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tune Books > Gow Collections. Niel Gow & Sons, 1799-1817, Gow's Repository of the Dance Music of Scotland. This is a facsimile edition, mostly comprising the traditional music compiled by the Gows. Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tune Books > Gow Collections. Nathaniel Gow, 1818, The Melodies of Scotland. Available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tune Books > Gow Collections. Niel Gow, 1819, The Beauties of Niel Gow. Think of it as a "Best of the first three Gow Collections", compositions by Niel Gow and sons. Available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tune Books > Gow Collections. Nathaniel Gow, 1823, The Ancient Curious Collection of Scotland. Think of this one more like a "Best of the Repository", the traditional tunes the Gows collected. Available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tune Books > Gow Collections. Malcolm MacDonald, 1788, Malcolm MacDonald Collection. This is a lesser-known 18th century composer. Also available from Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Composers. John Bowie, 1789, John Bowie Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. Abraham MacKintosh, 1792, Abraham MacKintosh Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. William Shepherd, 1793, The Shepherd Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. Duncan MacIntyre, 1794, The MacIntyre Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. Daniel McLaren, 1794, The McLaren Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. John Clark, 1795, New Strathspey Reels & Country Dances. This is a free downloadable PDF. John MacGlashan, 1796, John MacGlashan Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. The Earl of Eglinton, 1796, Earl of Eglinton's Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. James Campbell, 1798, Collection of Marches, Quick Steps, Strathspeys, Reels, etc.. This is a free downloadable PDF. John French, 1801, The French Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. Robert Petrie, 1800s, The Petrie Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. John Pringle, 1804, The Pringle Collections. This is a free downloadable PDF. Elizabeth Ross, 1812, Elizabeth Ross Manuscript. This is the oldest unpublished collection of Highland instrumental and vocal airs, in a new scholarly treatment, also a free downloadable PDF. Magdelina Stirling, 1812, The Magdelina Stirling Collection. This is a free downloadable PDF. Simon Fraser, 1815, Simon Fraser Collection, the classic collection of Highland vocal airs, collected between 1715-1745 by the editor's father and grandfather, along with the editor's own compositions. Modern edition with Paul Cranford's notes. Widely available from many sources, especially the Mel Bay edition: Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. Also available from Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections Simon Fraser, 1874, The Simon Fraser Collection, Volume 2. Fraser died before he could publish his second edition, but some of the tunes intended for it were eventually published by his son Angus. Highland Collections: 18th and 19th Century Fiddle Composers from the Highlands of Scotland. The Highland Music Trust has compiled this selection of the compositions of several lesser-known Highland composers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, namely: William Christie, Isaac Cooper, Angus Cumming, Charles Grant, Donald Grant, James Henry, and William Morrison. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. Fiddle Music from Fife: Alexander Leburn and James Walker, 1830s. This collection pairs the early-middle 19th century collections of two composers from Fife. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. Joseph Lowe, 1844-1845, Joseph Lowe Collection. Available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. John Thomas Surenne, 1851, Surenne Collection as a free Downloadable PDF. Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. Alexander Walker, 1866, Alexander Walker Collection. Another lesser-known 19th century composer. Source 1, Source 2. James Kerr, ~1870, First Collection of Merry Melodies, Not always the best settings of tunes, often leaving off the composer's name, but the Merry Melodies have been some of the most important, and popular, sources of Scottish traditional tunes since their publication. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. James Kerr, 1870s, Second Collection of Merry Melodies, Source 1, Source 2. James Kerr, 1870s, Third Collection of Merry Melodies, Source 1, Source 2. James Kerr, ~1879, Fourth Collection of Merry Melodies, Source 1, Source 2 James Kerr, 1880s, Kerr's Caledonian Collection, Source 1, Source 2. Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to Scottish Tunebooks > All Categories > Scottish Collections. Angus Fraser, 1870s, Angus Fraser Collection. This is probably the only surviving authentic collection of Highland tunes for the Gaelic harp, or clàrsach, in a manuscript produced by Simon Fraser's son, and reset into a modern edition by Taigh na Teud. James Scott Skinner, 1881, The Miller o' Hirn Collection. Skinner's first published tunes, with bass lines. Source 1. James Scott Skinner, 1882, Beauties of the Ballroom, Available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to Scottish Tunebooks > All Categories > J. Scott Skinner Tunebooks. James Scott Skinner, 1900, The Scottish Violinist. A collection of great Skinner tunes. No bass lines. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to Scottish Tunebooks > All Categories > J. Scott Skinner Tunebooks. James Scott Skinner, 1900, A Guide to Bowing. A useful guide the bowing styles and techniques of the "Grand Northeast" fiddling tradition. Source 1, Source, Source. James Scott Skinner, 1904, The Harp & Claymore Collection. A compilation of Skinner's most noteworthy tunes, including some songs, and bass lines added. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. Jane Fraser Morison, 1882, The Morison Collection. Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. James Stewart Robertson, 1885, The Athole Collection. One of several classic late 19th century compilations of Scottish fiddle music. Source 1, Source 2. Source 3, Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. Keith Norman MacDonald, 1887, The Skye Collection. Possibly the definitive one of the late 19th-century compilations. Source 1, Source 2, Source 3. Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. Keith Norman MacDonald, 1895, The Gesto Collection of Highland Music. A more eclectic collection of tunes, including many vocal airs with the Gaelic lyrics. Available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. John Glen, The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music, 1891 & 1895. The third of the great 19th century Scottish fiddle compilations. Source 1, Source 2 Also available at Fiddler's Crossing as a Musicopy edition, go to home > Scottish Tunebooks > Scottish Collections. David Johnson, Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century: A Musical Collection and Historical Study, 1984, not only an excellent history of Scottish 18th century music, but a fine collection of tunes as well, including important variation sets of 18th century tunes. Source.

Selected Modern Collections:

[Ceol na Fidhle] [The Scots Fiddle] [Hunter Collection]

Selected Cape Breton & Shetland Collections:

[Cape Breton Collections] [Shetland Collections]

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