Bargenny Bowling Green jig

Composed by Neil Gow,recorded by Capercaille.

Probably not composed by Neil Gow. “Bargenny’s Bowling Green” was published in John Riddle of Ayr’s 1782 collection and is also found in an earlier collection as “BallGownie’s Bowling Green”, published by David Rutherford c. 1775 (see “Rutherford’s Compleat Collection of 200 Country Dances, vol. 2” on the Village Music Project web-site.)

Hi Rosa - good to see you here. Slightly earlier than Riddell, it appears as “Balgeny’s Bouling Green” in Bremner’s First Collection (c1757). In Gow’s Complete Repository Vol.2, the tune is published with “Jo. Riddell” clearly marked beside it, so none of the Gow family attributed to him. Also, as you say, it was published in Riddell’s own 1782 collection, in which all tunes are claimed as his compositions.

Hi Nigel - thanks! John Riddle (1716-1795) published 2 editions, the first in 1766 and the second in 1782 (see Highland Music Trust web-site). The version in Bremner looks better than the one in Riddle’s 2nd edition which has F# in the fourth part (?).