[scots-l] Oswald fans in the New World

[Kate Dunlay or David Greenberg]

>I hope to put on a
>concert in Crail of Oswald's music, get some high-heid-yin tae launch a
>wall-plack/plaque (sp?) or something. An exhibition would be even better.
...
>For those not in the know, James Oswald (1710-69) was born in Crail, a
>crannied fishing village in the East Neuk of Fife.
...
>Apparently no-one in Crail has heard of him, so I intend to put that right....
>Rob

Rob, if you need a hand convincing the folks in Crail that James Oswald is
internationally famous, perhaps we can lend a hand -- either by writing a
supporting letter or just providing some evidense.  We are big Oswald fans
here!  Canadian David Greenberg (my husband) played and recorded many of
Oswald's pieces with Puirt a Baroque.  There is one on "Bach Meets Cape
Breton," two of the "Seasons" airs on "Kinloch's Fantasy," and three pieces
from the Caledonian Pocket Companion on "Return of the Wanderer."  I
especially love two of the pieces on "Return" which show Oswald's two
sides; though short, "St. Martin's Church Yard" is "art music" whereas "New
Strathspey Reel" makes a great fiddle strathspey (when transposed to D --
Oswald wrote it in G to fit the compass of the flute).  When working with
pieces from the Caledonian Pocket Companion, one has to construct a bass
part if one wants accompaniment, since none was given.  David found this a
lot of fun.

It seems like a lot of new Oswald recordings have come out since.  Does
anyone have a discography?

>Sonata of Scots Tunes, which I think is the only really successful attempt
>to unite
>the traditional with the classical.

Puirt a Baroque performed a rearranged version of this several years ago
with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.  The concert was in Halifax and it was
picked up by CBC.  The editorial viola part by David Johnson was used.  One
of the reasons I think the Sonata works is that the songs Oswald worked
with were suitable.  For instance, he didn't try to use melodies for the
Sonata which had modal characteristics which would be problematic in a
classical arrangement.  Nevertheless, David Greenberg didn't feel that it
was a particularly exciting work as written, hence the rearrangement to
suit the circumstances and to make it more of a crossover piece.

- Kate D.


--
Kate Dunlay & David Greenberg
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
http://www.total.net/~dungreen


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