Daniel Dow

Daniel Dow (1732-1783) was a traditional Scottish fiddler, composer, teacher and concert organiser. He is credited as both Daniel and Donald, both acceptable translations for the Gaelic name of 'Domhnull'.[1]

Life

Dow was born 1732 in Kirkmichael, Perthshire, Scotland and became a music teacher in Edinburgh where he taught, among other instruments, the guitar.[2] In December 1774 at Kirmichael, Perthshire he married Susanna Small of Dirnanean.[1] The couple had four children.[1] Dow died of a fever on 20 January 1783 and is buried in Canongate Church, Edinburgh, Scotland.[1]

A concert to benefit his widow and children was given shortly after his death in St. Mary's Hall, Niddry's Wynd, where Dow had often given his own concerts over the years.[1] His son John also became a fiddler.[3]

Works

About 1775 he issued a collection of "Twenty Minuets and Sixteen Reels".[3]

In 1776 in Edinburgh, Dow published "Daniel Dow, A Collection of Ancient Scots Music", a collection of 16 songs for the violin, harpsichord or German Flute.[4] This collection included never before printed historical compositions consisting of ports, salutations, marches or piobrachs,[4] making it one of the first publications to include music specifically for the bagpipes. It is one of the important sources of traditional Scottish music.[5]

Also in 1776, Dow published Thirty Seven New Reels & Strathspeys for the Violin, Harpsichord, Piano Forte or German Flute.[2] This is the first collection of music to include the word "Strathspey" in its title.[1]

Dow's most famous composition is Monymusk, a contra dance originally published in 1776 under the title of Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk's Reel.[6] The tune was likely named after Sir Grant's estate near Monymusk, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.[6] The composition is considered one of the great Scottish strathspeys.[7] The piece has become ubiquitous in Scotland, Ireland, and North America.[8]

Many of Dow's compositions were renamed by Nathaniel Gow and others when including them in their own collections.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Glen, John. "The Fiddler's Companion". Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  2. 1 2 Skinner, James Scott. "Music of James Scott Skinner". Aberdeen University. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 Baptie, David (1894). Musical Scotland, past and present:being a dictionary of Scottish musicians ... Edinburgh, Glasgow, London: J. and R. Parlane, Paisley. pp. 45–46. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 Chadwick, Simon. "Sources for Gaelic Harp Music". Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "WireStrungHarp". Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  6. 1 2 "The Dearborn Independent". March 20, 1926. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  7. ↑ Emmerson, George S. (1967). Scotland Through Her Country Dances. London, England: Johnson. p. 159.
  8. ↑ "Free Flute Sheet Music". Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Play Scottish Music". Retrieved 1 July 2012.
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