Sir Jimmy Shand’s Music Book Collection
The Friends of Wighton are delighted to announce that they have secured Sir Jimmy Shand’s Music Book Collection for Dundee’s Wighton Collection!
Sir Jimmy’s Collection, comprising some 23 books and manuscripts, were auctioned in Edinburgh on Wednesday 21st August, and FoW’s bid of £1300, (plus costs, giving a total to £1657.50), was enough to bring them to the purpose built Wighton Heritage Centre in the City’s Central Library.
Niall Robertson, Vice-chairman of Friends of Wighton, said “It is great news that the Jimmy Shand collection is coming to Dundee where Sir Jimmy lived and worked for so long (and isn’t so far from Auchtermuchty) and we hope to make it available to anyone who wants to study his life’s work.”
The Wighton Collection’s Honorary Librarian, Sheena Wellington, was thrilled. “I had the honour of meeting Sir Jimmy on several occasions and I am so pleased that we were able to keep his books in Scotland and in a place where they will cherished but where people can admire and consult them. Mind you, the telephone bidding was tense and at one point I tried to bid against myself!”
It is hoped that the Shand Collection will play a special part in a City of Culture project.
The Friends have already received donations towards the cost of buying the Collection and have plans for fundraising events for the balance.
To make a contribution please click here
The Collection comprises:
SIR JIMMY SHAND’S MUSIC BOOKS
GOW (NEIL) A Collection of Strathspey Reels, with a Bass for the Violoncello or Harpsichord, for the author, [c.1785]
PLEYEL (IGNACE) Three Grand Sonatas, for the Piano Forte or Harpsichord… select Scotish Airs, Edinburgh, Purdie, [c.1800]; ibid, another copy, lacking boards
BALFORUR (DAVID) Ancient Orkney Melodies, Edinburgh, Ballantyne, 1885
KENNEDY-FRASER (MARJORY and KENNETH MACLEOD) Songs of the Hebrides, 3 vol., dust-jackets, Boosey, 1922
The Ballroom Music Book… for the Pianoforte, INSCRIBED ‘TO JAMES SHAND WITH BEST WISHES FROM JIM WHELAN THE GALWAY ARMS DUBLIN’, Boosey, [c.1870]
LEE (ALEXANDER) Here’s a Health bonnie Scotland to thee, Lee, [c.1830]
LOW (JOSEPH) Collection of Reels Strathspens & Jigs, Edinburgh, Paterson
GLEADHILL (T.S.) Kyle’s Scottish Lyris Gems, Glasgow, Ferrie
WATLEN (JOHN) Collection of the most admired Scots Songs, pages rubbed and repaired with loss, for the author, August 1st 1793
Manuscript Music Book, ink on paper, approximately 50 pages, inscribed ‘Miss Christina Gib, Maulesden, Brechin, Nov 9th 1836’
Manuscript Music Book, ink on paper, approximately 30 pages, inscribed ‘R. Scott, 1813’
Manuscript Music Book, ink on paper, with bars in ink, approximately 98 pages and 1 page index, upper cover with red calf label reading ‘Jess Grant’, [eighteenth century]; together with one further musical manuscript and 7 other books of music, cloth and half calf, 4to and smaller (23)