Biography
Niel Gow stood as the founding figure among Scotland's elite lineage of master folk fiddlers. Together with his relatives, he elevated the folk music and performance practices spanning the prior century and a half to new levels of esteem. His approach to the bow stood out for its rarity, unmatched power, and clear individuality. The Duke of Athole offered him early support, followed by patronage from the Duchess of Gordon. Aristocrats across every rank sought out his performances. Despite such high demand, his compositions stayed faithful to their straightforward and regional character. Edinburgh saw the 1784 release of his "Collection of Strathsepy Reels," which earned broad praise yet made no effort to separate his own works from those of associates or longstanding traditional tunes. Numerous painters from that era, among them Raeburn and Allan, captured his likeness on multiple occasions.