Gow, NEIL

Gow, NEIL, a famous Scotch violin-player, was born at Inver, near Dunkeld, 22d March 1727, and before he reached manhood had become the best performer of reels and strathspeys in Perthshire. Through the notice of the Duke of Athole, with whom he was a life-long favourite, he was introduced to the patronage of the principal nobility and gentry throughout Scotland; and such was the kindly esteem in which he was held that Sir Henry Raeburn was several times employed to paint his portrait for his patrons. He died 1st March 1807. Gow composed nearly a hundred tunes, mostly of a lively character; but it is chiefly to the tradition of his singular skill with the bow that his name owes its survival almost as a household word in Scotland.—His youngest son, NATHANIEL, born 28th May 1766, was trained as a violin-player in Edinburgh, where in 1782 he became one of the king's trumpeters for Scotland, and subsequently was leader of a fashionable band, and a successful teacher. His first venture as a musicseller (1796–1813) was not successful, and a second attempt ended in bankruptcy in 1827; but his admirers came to his aid, and his few remaining years, though darkened by sickness, were not distressed by actual want. He died 17th January 1831. He published numerous and very full collections of Scotch airs and songs; and his own compositions number over two hundred—among them 'Caller Herring.'