Special Collections
The Special Collections within the Scottish Music Archive include a wide variety of items including personal archives of composers, collections of demo and master tapes, live recordings and much more, representing an array of Scottish musical life. These are given a special status because they may be:
Rare or Unique
Associated with a particular institution or individual
Actively growing collections, with their own Collections Policy
Descriptions of each Special Collections are given below. Most of the collections and catalogued and integrated into our Public Catalogue - they can be browsed via the link below.
Cataloguing and digitising of the collections is ongoing. If you would like to know more about one of the Special Collections, please contact our Archive Managers.
Special Collections (A-Z)
Arthur Blake/Ian Gourlay Collection
Over 1000 performing sets of light orchestral arrangements made for the BBC and Scottish Television. Donated by Margaret Calderwood and Morna Gourlay.
Photo credit: SMC Archive
BBC Scotland Radio Orchestra Collection
The sheet music for over 3000 songs including ‘I Belong to Glasgow’, ‘The Jeely Piece Song’ and ‘Donald, Where’s Your Troosers’. From the archive of the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Unclaimed master-tapes donated by CaVa’s Glasgow studios when it downsized in 2005. More details
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Clifford Hughes Collection
20 tapes representing the recorded work of Clifford Hughes (1936-2013) as lyric tenor and musical director of the Castalian Singers. Donated by Kathleen Hughes.
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Over thirty releases on CD and vinyl by Edinburgh-based industrial techno outfit Finitribe and related projects from the 1980s and 1990s. Donated by David Millar. Full listing
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Francis George Scott Collection
Including the original manuscripts of over 200 songs, many of them still unpublished, by Francis George Scott (1880-1958), a major figure of the modernist Scottish renaissance.
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Glasgow Orpheus Choir Collection
Two boxes of material relating to the Glasgow Orpheus Choir and its founder and conductor Hugh S. Roberton. The Lute, 14 bound volumes, 1918-51; a scrapbook, concert programmes, photographs, and recordings. Donated by John R Hume and Duncan & Una McGhie. Archive link
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Ian Whyte Collection
Over 2000 handwritten scores and parts for original compositions and arrangements by Ian Whyte (1901-1960).
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Jazz at the Gateway Collection
Tapes of performances at the Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh in the 1980s by Oscar Peterson, Stan Tracey, Morrissey Mullen, Duncan Findlay, Jimmy Deuchar and others. Donated by James Bryce.
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Over 1000 sheet music items and over 400 recordings from the personal collection of the famous tenor. Donated by Jane McKellar. Partial list
Photo credit: Scotland on Air
Mostly unpublished, handwritten chamber and instrumental compositions by Marie Dare (1902-1976). More details
Photo credit: Reproduced by kind permission of Gordon Long
Manuel Jacobs Collection
The surviving manuscripts of instrumental and chamber compositions of Manuel Jacobs (1910-1993). Donated by Geoffrey Jacobs.
Photo credit: SMC Archive
Morris Pert Collection
Over a hundred tapes representing the recording career of the composer and percussionist Morris Pert (1947-2010), including his work with Brand X and his own group Suntreader. Donated by Mark Spalding.
Photo credit: British Music Collection
New Traditional School Collection
Established in 2024, this national collection preserves selected compositions from traditional and folk musicians in Scotland. Based on Dr Lori Watson’s research at the University of Edinburgh.
The first phase features works by Mairi Campbell, Fraser Fifield, Martin Green, Corrina Hewat, Karen Marshalsay, Aidan O’Rourke, Patsy Reid, Ailie Robertson, Jim Sutherland, Simon Thoumire, and Mike Vass. Project link
Photo credit: Reproduced with kind permission of Lori Watson
Philip Hill Collection
Over 500 cassettes recorded by Barry Morris and John Wiggins from radio broadcasts (mid-1970s–early 1980s), mostly featuring the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Some copied from reel recordings. Donated by Gavin Hill.
Photo credit: Placeholder, Squarespace stock image
Rab Noakes Collection
A substantial collection of over 300 sound and video recordings donated by the family of singer-songwriter and radio producer Rab Noakes (1947–2022). Includes demos, sessions, and interviews with musicians featured in his documentaries.
Photo credit: Reproduced by kind permission of John Cavanagh
A wide range of photographs, demo and promo tapes, original mixes, radio broadcasts, and live concert recordings from the 1970s and 80s. Donated by Ronnie Gurr. More details
Photo credit: SMC Archive
A collection of over 600 tapes sent to BBC Scotland in the 1980s by bands and singer-songwriters hoping for radio play. Partial listing
Photo credit: BBC Radio Scotland
William G Whittaker Collection
Handwritten and printed scores and parts for nearly 500 works by William G. Whittaker (1876–1944). Includes letters, diaries, and a draft autobiography.
Photo credit: Wikipedia, University of Glasgow
William Wallace Collection
Indexed research materials from Valerie Carson’s MA dissertation on composer William Wallace (1860–1940), including scores, biographical data, and correspondence. Donated by Valerie Carson.
Photo credit: Hyperion Records
William Wordsworth Collection
Handwritten and printed scores and parts for over 100 original compositions by William Wordsworth (1908–1988), plus correspondence and sketches.
Image Credit: SMC Archive
Artwork credit: Deborah Dewar
Miscellaneous Material
We also hold a substantial collection of ephemeral material relating to over a hundred Scottish composers, such as concert programmes, press clippings, correspondence, photographs, mostly from the 1960s to the present day.
