Oswald, James

Scotch dancing-master and musician of the Eighteenth Century. He was a dancing teacher at Dunfermline, where he published in 1734 a collection on minuets. From there he went to Edinburgh, where, in addition to his original vocation, he became known as a violinist, organist and composer, and edited a Curious Collection of Scots Tunes. He left Edinburgh and settled in London, where he edited numerous collections of music, publishing his own compositions anonymously, or under an assumed name. He became chambercomposer to King George III. in 1761, and is one of the many to whom God Save the King is attributed. Several other collections of Scotch music, and, Airs for Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter; The Caledonian Pocket Companion; Ten Favourite Songs; and fifty-five marches for the militia were published by him. Baptie accuses him of poor taste in the selection of Scotch tunes and declares that his information is not reliable.