Blackhall, Andro (1535/6–1609), composer, is earliest known as a canon of the Augustinian abbey of Holyrood, Edinburgh. Following the dissolution of the monastery during the Scottish Reformation of 1559/60 he pursued a career in the reformed church as minister in the nearby churches of ...
Article
Blackhall, Andro (1535/6–1609), composer
D. James Ross
Article
Bonar, Horatius (1808–1889), Free Church of Scotland minister and hymn writer
Rosemary Mitchell
Bonar, Horatius (1808–1889), Free Church of Scotland minister and hymn writer, was born at Edinburgh on 19 December 1808. He was the sixth son of James Bonar, the second solicitor of excise at Edinburgh, and his wife, Marjory Maitland (d. 1854), the daughter of ...
Image
Bonar, Horatius (1808–1889)
Maker: David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson
In
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889) by David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson © National Portrait Gallery, London
Image
Broadwood, John (1732–1812)
Maker: William Say
In
John Broadwood (1732–1812) by William Say, pubd 1812 (after John Harrison junior) © National Portrait Gallery, London
Article
Broadwood, John (1732–1812), harpsichord and piano manufacturer
Charles Mould
Broadwood, John (1732–1812), harpsichord and piano manufacturer, was born on 15 October 1732 at Oldhamstocks, near Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, Scotland, the eldest son of James Broadwood (1697–1774) and his wife, Margaret Purves (1698–1777), daughter of Robert Purves and Elspeth Hall...
Article
Brown, Alexander [Sandy] (1929–1975), bandleader and acoustic architect
A. J. H. Latham
Brown, Alexander [Sandy] (1929–1975), bandleader and acoustic architect, was born on 25 February 1929 in Izatnagar, near Bareilly in India, the second son of John Brown, a railway engineer who died about 1936, and his wife, Minnie Henderson (d. 1975). His parents were Scottish and Presbyterian, although ...
Article
Brown, James Duff (1862–1914), librarian and compiler of music reference books
K. A. Manley
Brown, James Duff (1862–1914), librarian and compiler of music reference books, was born on 6 November 1862 at 3 Reid Terrace, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, the second of seven children of James Brown of St Fergus, Aberdeenshire, a bookkeeper, and his wife, Margaret Douglas of ...
Article
Brown, Robert Urquhart (1906–1972), piper, piobaireachd player, and teacher
Jack Lorimer Taylor
Brown, Robert Urquhart (1906–1972), piper, piobaireachd player, and teacher, was born on 1 May 1906 in Strachan, Kincardineshire, son of Francis Farquharson Brown (1875–1955?) head keeper of Blackhall estate, and his wife, Margaret Dunbar (1871–1937). He was educated at Banchory Academy. He started piping at the age of eleven, and soon showed a love for piobaireachd, the classical music of the highland bagpipe. His early tutors were ...
Article
Bunney, Herrick Cyril William (1915–1997), organist and conductor
Michael D. Harris
Bunney, Herrick Cyril William (1915–1997), organist and conductor, was born on 12 May 1915 at 17 Elm Grove Road, Barnes, Surrey, the son of Cyril Herbert Herrick Bunney (1881–1969), electrical engineer and civil servant, and his wife, Ethel Letitia, née Ardley (1877?–1958). Educated at ...
Article
Cameron, Donald (c. 1810–1868), highland bagpipe player and teacher
William Donaldson
Cameron, Donald (c. 1810–1868), highland bagpipe player and teacher, was born probably at Contin near Strathpeffer in eastern Ross and Cromarty, one of three sons of Colin Cameron (c.1770–1862), a farmer, and his wife, Mary Cameron (c.1777–1865), also a farmer. On 9 December 1841 he married ...
Article
Carrick, John Donald (1788–1837), songwriter and journalist
Jennett Humphreys
revised by Douglas Brown
Carrick, John Donald (1788–1837), songwriter and journalist, was born on 22 April 1788 at Glasgow, the son of Elizabeth Donald and William Carrick, a porter. His father was originally from Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire. He was put to work early in the office of a ...
Article
Clunie, John (c. 1757–1819), Church of Scotland minister and songwriter
T. F. Henderson
revised by James How
Clunie, John (c. 1757–1819), Church of Scotland minister and songwriter, was educated for the Church of Scotland and licensed by the presbytery of Edinburgh on 29 December 1784. He then became schoolmaster at Markinch, Fife, where possessing a fine voice and some musical skill he acted as precentor in the parish church. In 1790 he was presented by the ...
Article
Dougall, Neil (1776–1862), poet and hymn writer
T. W. Bayne
revised by Douglas Brown
Dougall, Neil (1776–1862), poet and hymn writer, was born on 9 December 1776 at Greenock, the son of Neil Dougald and his wife, Jean Moir. His father was a joiner and sailor, who was pressed into the naval service and died in Ceylon...
Article
Drysdale, (George John) Learmont (1866–1909), composer
Moira Ann Harris
Drysdale, (George John) Learmont (1866–1909), composer, was born on 3 October 1866 at 37 George Street, Edinburgh, the youngest of the three children of Andrew Drysdale (1831–1918), builder, and his wife, Jane Elspeth Learmont (1827–1909), who was descended from the border poet Thomas the Rhymer...
Article
Dun, Finlay (1795–1853), composer and violinist
Christopher D. S. Field
Dun, Finlay (1795–1853), composer and violinist, was born on or before 24 July 1795 in Aberdeen, the son of Barclay Dun (1771–1843/1844?), a dancing-master, and his wife, Helen (b. 1777), the daughter of John Duthie and his wife, Bathie. He was a nephew of ...
Article
Gillies, John MacDougall (1855–1925), player and teacher of the highland bagpipe
William Donaldson
Gillies, John MacDougall (1855–1925), player and teacher of the highland bagpipe, was born on 20 May 1855 at 126 Gallowgate, Aberdeen, eldest of the three sons of John MacDougall Gillies (b. 1825), marble polisher from Glendaruel, Argyll, and his wife, Isabella Smith (...
Article
Gordon, Anna (1747–1810), ballad collector
William Donaldson
Gordon, Anna (1747–1810), ballad collector, was born in Old Aberdeen on 24 August 1747, the youngest daughter of Thomas Gordon (1714–1797), professor of humanity at King's College, Aberdeen, and his wife, Lilias Forbes of Disblair. She was presumably educated privately, and married on 13 December 1788 the ...
Image
Gow, Nathaniel (1763–1831)
Maker: John Kay
In
Nathaniel Gow (1763–1831) by John Kay © National Portrait Gallery, London
Article
Gow, Nathaniel (1763–1831), fiddler and composer
Christopher D. S. Field
Gow, Nathaniel (1763–1831), fiddler and composer, was born on 27 May 1763 at Inver, near Dunkeld, Perthshire, and baptized at Little Dunkeld two days later, the fourth of the five sons of Niel Gow (1727–1807) and his first wife, Margaret Wiseman. The date of his birth, which has often been given wrongly, is established by the baptismal register for ...
Image
Gow, Niel (1727–1807)
Maker: Sir Henry Raeburn
In
Niel Gow (1727–1807) by Sir Henry Raeburn Scottish National Portrait Gallery
