Hi Anne,
you asked what did the the Scots produce between from the late 1600's
until the late 1800"s? Let's start with Sir John Clerk of Pennicuik
(1676-1755). He studied composition under Corelli, producing two
cantatas which merit listening to. "Odo di Mesto Intorno"
and "Dic Mihi Saeve Puer" The latter
is written to a text by the Dutch poet Hermann Booerhaave, I love its
ending when the aspirant longs to die and get free form the dread bow of
desire, and the lustful hands of tender young girls. Anyone who could
write music around this surely merits attention.
James Oswald (1710-69) Ended as one of Britain's leading music publishers
as well as becoming chamber composer to old loonie Georgie III. He
allegedly produced the first song cycle "Colin's Kisses" among other
chamber pieces.
Thomas Erskine, Earl of Kelly "Fiddler Tam", was known by the upper
cruse as "his harmoniuos lordship" He studied with Stamitz the Elder and
brought the Mannheim style to Britain. Most of his stuff is long lost bt
there's enough left to show his talents in both chamber and orchestral
composition.
John Thomson,(1807-41) a friend of Mendelssohn was an accpomplished composer
for pianoforte, an instrument that the Scot John Broadwood was
instrumental in developing. He also wrote several lieder.Could mention a
few more but let's end with Sir Alexander Campbell MacKenzie (1847-1935)
who was principal of the Royal Academy of Music for over 30 years. His
Pibroch Suite and Violin Concerto were premiereed by Sarasate.
My source for this information is a superb double CD I got by accident
"Scotland's Music" Lynn Records 1992 CKD 008 which I cannot recommend
highly enough. I'd never heard of many of the above until I received it
instead of the Baltimore Consort CD I'd actually ordered.
Why are those folks forgotten? Obscured by the English giant to the south
perhaps? ust like other talented Scottish artists.
Le Beannachd
Tom Mc Rae