ABBA

He was a composer, violinist and music publisher born in Scotland. He began composition at a young age and by the time he was 26 years old he had published his "Collection of Minuets" under the pseudonym David Rizzio. Using Scottish folk music as a basis he would write many tunes predominantly for the fiddle, and would arrange many others, and this would culminate in the 1740 publication of a Curious Collection of Scots Tunes. He moved to London in 1741 and went into business as a publisher, and issued his 15-volume The Caledonian Pocket Companion that contained his own work and original versions of Scottish tunes, and Thesaurus Musicus, which had some possible involvement with the tune for "God Save the King". In 1761 he was given the position of Chamber Composer to King George III and he possibly remained in that same employment until his death in Hertfordshire at age 58 in 1769. He was a member, with other composers in London, of the secret music society "The Temple of Apollo". His numerous compositions were written in classical and Scottish Styles and although many are still undiscovered as he often wrote anonymously, it is known that his works include many miniatures, works for stage, "The Tulip" (which was the tune used for "The Wearing of the Green"), "Air for Autumn", "The Almond", "Balance the Straw", Dustcart cantata, Eighteen Divertimentos for Two Guitars or Two Mandolins and Twelve Divertimentis for Guitar. Much of his music is held in the Wighton Collection in Dundee.

The Wearing of the Green recordings

Boston Pops Orchestra

RCA 60746-2-RG (CD: Irish Night at the Pops)

Conductor - Arthur Fiedler

Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra

Mercury 434 376-2 (CD: Fennell Conducts the Music Of Leroy Anderson and Eric Coates)

Conductor - Frederick Fennell

Richard Hayman and His Orchestra

Naxos 8.555016 (CD: Irish Rhapsody)

Naxos 8.990018 (CD: Irish Rhapsody)

Sources: