Niel Gow© Henry RaeburnPublic Domain Mark

Niel Gow

Fiddler and composer; Scottish dance music

Born
22 March 1727, Strathbraan, Perthshire
Died
1 March 1807, Inver, Perthshire

Niel Gow grew up near Dunkeld and trained as a weaver before his fiddling won him the patronage of the Duke of Atholl. He played for balls and gatherings across Scotland in a golden age of fiddle dance music. His son Nathaniel published his tunes, many still played at Scottish country dances, and Henry Raeburn painted his portrait.

Further reading: Wikipedia