Biography:Joseph Lowe

Joseph Lowe
Given name:	Joseph
Middle name:
Family name:	Lowe
Place of birth:
Place of death:
Year of birth:	1797
Year of death:	1866
Profile:	Collector, Composer, Musician, Publisher
Source of information:

Biographical notes

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Dancing master and musician Joseph Lowe was born into a musical family. His father, John Low (who did not use an 'e' at the end of his name), was a fiddler-composer who lived in Marykirk (see his most famous compositions, "Archie Menzies" and "Rachael Rae"). John, who was a master shoe-maker in addition to his musical avocation, apprenticed Joseph to a saddle-maker, but the son found music too compelling, and it had become a family trade. Joseph's siblings distributed themselves around Scotland to teach music and dance: John in Perth, Arbroath and Elgin; Robert in Glasgow, Montrose and Brechin; and James in Dundee and Fifeshire. Joseph, fleeing the saddle-maker, joined his brother Robert in Brechin, but eventually established himself and in Edinburgh and Inverness as a teacher of violin and dancing (The eldest Low sibling, Ann, married one David Alexander). The family even published a treatise, called Lowes' Ball Conductor and Assembly Guide.

Lowe married one of the daughters of John Eager, an English composer, organist and violinist, who had moved to Edinburgh around 1836. He published, in six volumes, Lowe's Collection of Strathspeys, Jigs and Reels (1844-45), which is still referred to today, as well as a few similar collections of music. His most prestigious assignment, however, was as a teacher of music and dancing to the Royal Family at Balmoral and Windsor, in the 1850's.

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