Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 7, 1899

THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
171
N E I U G O W.
^C-Tjj^^ITH the exception of the greater lights,
iSfe^v/y few men were better known in his
^M"/> day than Neil Gow, the famous Perth-
shire tiddler. This remarkable man and musical
genius was born at Inver, near Dunkelil, on the
27th March, 1727; and rose — like one of the
hills amongst which he spent his life — far above
his compeers, and was acknowledged by his con-
temporaries and others as being the best player
of Scotch Strathspey music that ever handled a
bow. Of this there can hardly be a doubt, as
there is abundant evidence, both direct and
indirect, to substantiate it. His fame spread so
rapidly that he was well known by reputation in
every county in Scotland, and beyond the border
as well. His parents first intended him to
become a plaid weaver, but he showed at an
early age such a predilection for music that the
idea of his becoming a weaver was soon aban-
doned. He received no musical instruction until
he was thirteen years of age, when he was
placed under John Cameron, a follower of the
house of Grandtully, who gave him his Kr.st
lessons in violin jilaying, and from whom he pro-
bably acquired some knowledge of the elements
of music. His progress was so rapid that he
soon out-stripped his master and all the other
players in his native county, which was well
known to produce some of the best players in
Scotland, and where his influence is felt even to
the present day. The robust style of playing
for which the violinists of that county have long
been famous, was founded by Neil Gow, or, at
any rate, greatly improved by him.
Out of his own county, he was perhaps as
much admired in Fifeshire as anywhere. The
writer of this notice was informed many years
ago by an old gentleman in Fife, who knew
several people who were intimately acquainted
with Neil Gow, and had often heard him play,
that there was something very uncommon about
his playing — he seemed to jiroduce an electrical
effect upon his dancers ; mentioning particularly
that at the Fife Hunt balls a complete change
came over the countenances of the people present
the moment Neil struck up. The remarkable
melodiousness of his playing, his forcible " up
bow ", and the animation of the assembly, added
a charm to the music and a brilliance to the
whole scene. When Neil Gow was at his best
he generally, in the usual Highland fashion,
shouted " Haigh " — pronounced ''Hy" — when
changing from the Strathspey to the Reel, which
of course added a stimulus to the heels of the
performers. He was equally famous as a com-
poser, having composed upwards of eighty-seven
tunes — principally Strathspeys and reels — many
of which are almost unsur|iassable. His first
collection of music was published in 1784, and
was dedicated to Her Grace the Duchess of
Athole. Three others were issued during his
life-time, in which he was a.ssisted by his sons.
He was twice married. His first wife was
Margaret Wiseman, by whom he had a family of
five sons and three daughters. The second wife,
Margaret Urquhart, or Orchard, had no family.
Four of the sons followed their father's pro-
fession, and became well known; especially
Nathaniel, who was the most famous. Mr. John
Glen of Edinburgh, in a critical essay on the
Gows in the first volume of his fine "Glen
Collection of Scottish Dance Music," gives a
very full account of the Gows ; and other
interesting matter of a controversial nature which
would be very difficult to refute.
On one occasion, Neil Gow was honoured by
a visit of Robert Burns, the poet, who drew a
sketch of him in his memorandum-book. Num-
berless are the anecdotes that have been related
of him, and the smart things he said and did.
He was a man full of quaint humour, honest and
independent — which gained him the respect and
confidence of many people of distinction. He
was on familiar terms with the Duke of Athole,
the Duchess of Gordon and other members of
the aristocracy, and all the Perthshire county
gentlemen. He was also quick of repartee, and
given to practical joking of an innocent nature,
which pleased and amused his patrons. Some of