Niel Gow was born in Strathbraan, Perthshire on March 22, 1727 to John Gow and Catherine McEwan. He emerged from humble beginnings to become the most celebrated Scottish fiddler of the 18th century, a musical legend who would shape Scottish traditional music for centuries to come.

Niel’s family moved to Inver near Dunkeld, and by the age of 13, he was already mastering the fiddle. He originally worked as a weaver, but music called to him more strongly than plaid ever could. His exceptional talent simply couldn’t be contained.

Gow’s unique style was so distinctive that he gained fame at the age of 18 after winning a competition judged by the blind fiddler John McCraw, who said he “would ken Gow’s bow hand among a hundred players”.

This attracted the attention of the Duke of Atholl who became Gow’s patron. Niel would play regularly on stage in the Great Hall of Blair Castle and at other locations for balls and dance parties put on by the local nobility. He soon became renowned as a fiddler.


Niel’s talent had transitioned him into a full-time career as a musician. He became known for his skill in playing Scottish dance music, including jigs, strathspeys and reels. These weren’t just tunes; they were the heartbeat of Scottish life. His compositions ranged from the lively to the deeply personal, like his famous ‘Farewell to Whisky‘ written in 1799 during a barley crop failure that threatened Scotland’s whisky production. Niel is credited with composing or adapting 87 pieces. Many of these he wrote while sitting beneath an old Oak tree beside the River Tay near his home. This 300 year-old tree is now known as Niel Gow’s Oak.

Niel’s music captured the very heart of Scotland.


Personal life…

In 1750, Niel married Margaret Wiseman, and together they raised seven children, including William, Andrew, Nathaniel, and John, who would carry on their father’s musical legacy. Particularly his son Nathaniel, who contributed significantly to the family’s musical legacy by publishing several collections of Scottish music. He had almost 200 tunes accredited to him during his lifetime.

As a widower, Niel fell in love again and in 1768 he married Margaret Urquhart from Perth. They continued to live in his family home in Inver and they went on to share a happy marriage until she died in 1805. Her death inspired the composition of one his most famous and moving pieces ‘Niel Gow’s Lament for the Death of His Second Wife’ written in memory of his soulmate. You can listen to this beautiful piece in the short video below, in which we also take you on a journey through Niel’s life and to his home:

When Niel Gow died on March 1, 1807, he left behind a legacy. He’d transformed Scottish folk fiddling from a rustic pastime into a respected art-form. His legacy lived on through his sons, who continued publishing and performing their father’s works, ensuring that the melodies that once echoed through the hills of Perthshire would never fade away.

Despite his fame, Niel remained true to his roots, never leaving his family home. This connection to his homeland shaped his music profoundly. His home still stands in Inver.

Today, centuries after his death, Niel’s compositions still pulse through the heart of Scottish traditional music, played in pubs, concert halls and homes across the world. His life serves as a reminder that great art doesn’t always come from grand cities or formal training—sometimes it springs from the simple love of a fiddle and a deep connection to one’s homeland.

Niel was buried at Little Dunkeld Kirk, though his original headstone was moved to Dunkeld Cathedral Chapter House for preservation and replaced with this newer headstone in his family’s plot. At the base of his stone is a Fiddle. Also erected in his hometown is a statue of him.

Our recent acquisition…

In September 2024, after our Niel Gow pilgrimage we decided to invest in a rather special bound book – Four volumes of Scottish dance music by Niel Gow, published from 1784. The volumes are as follows:

Volume 1: A Collection of Strathspey Reels. Dedicated to her Grace, the Duchess of Athole, by Neil Gow, (Printed 1784 in Edinburgh), Printed for the Author.

Volume 2: A Second Collection of Strathspey Reels. Dedicated by Permission to the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Caledonian Hunt, by Niel Gow (Printed 1788 in Edinburgh)

Volume 3: A Third Collection of Strathspey Reels, Dedicated to the Marchioness of Tweeddale, by Niel Gow. (Printed 1792 in Edinburgh) Printed for the Author and to be had of him at Dunkeld. Also mentioned is Nath Gow (Niel’s son)

Volume 4: A Second Collection of Strathspey Reels. Dedicated by Permission to the Earl of Breadalbane by Malcolm McDonald. Corrected by Niel Gow, (Printed 1789 in Edinburgh).

These 4 Volumes were bound together into one book in 1800, seven years before Niel passed away.

Robert Burns and Niel Gow…

Niel’s influence reached far beyond the dance halls. The great poet Robert Burns was so moved by Gow’s fiddling and compositions, that he wanted to incorporate several into his songs. These included the timeless ‘My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose’. Burns specified the melody that he had in mind for this poem in a letter to James Johnson. He wrote “The tune of this song is in Niel Gow’s first Collection and is called there ‘Major Graham’ – it is to be found page 6th of that Collection.” Here is page 6 from our book, and Major Graham is near the top.

Niel Gow’s contributions to Scottish music are often compared to Robert Burns’ impact on Scottish poetry—both men creatively preserved and elevated their nation’s cultural heritage.


2 Responses

  • Pamela Stoffel

    What a fascinating history of this man’s life, and the inclusion of the piece honoring his second wife is moving in its simplicity. Gow’s playing at Blair Castle must have been wonderful occasions to appreciate his talent and his love of Scotland as portrayed in his music.

    Reply
  • It’s particularly moving to see how his personal losses were transformed into such beautiful pieces that resonate deeply with listeners even now.

    Reply

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