The First Annual Niel Gow Festival

The First Annual Niel Gow Festival will be held in Dunkeld and Birnam from Friday, March 19th to Sunday, 21st 2004. Some of Scotland's finest fiddlers as well as other top Scottish musicians will be participating.

The Taybank
Tay Terrace
Dunkeld
PH8 OAQ

Tel: 01350 727340
Fax: 01350 727979
Email: admin@thetaybank.com

Niel Gow known as "The Father of Strathspey and Reel Players" Niel Gow 1727 - 1807, was born at Inver in Perthshire the son of a weaver. He took up the fiddle at the age of 9 and was largely self taught. It is estimated that he wrote around 70 tunes and his influence on Scottish music continued through his four sons Andrew, John, William and Nathaniel who were also practising musicians. Nathaniel apart form being a notable fiddler and teacher was also a gifted composer and founded in 1796 an Edinburgh music publishing business. Of the Gow publications, the first four 'Collections of Strathspey Reels (1784, 1788, 1792 & 1800) were the work of "Neil Gow at Dunkeld". The fifth and sixth collections (1809 & 1822) and the four 'Repositories' (1799, 1802, 1806 & 1817), on the other hand were by "Neil Gow and Sons".

In his own Journal, Robert Burns described Gow, who played for him, as 'a short, stout-built Highland figure, with his greyish hair shed on his honest social brow, an interesting face, marking strong sense, kind open heartedness mixed with unmistrusting simplicity'.

Robert Burns later visited Gow's house in Inver. Gow's main publications were a Collection of Strathspey Reels, 1784, 1788 and 1792, and the Complete Repository of Original Scots Slow Strathspeys and Dances, 1799, 1808, 1822. Neil was appointed fiddler to the Duke of Atholl, and, along with his brother and sons he formed an ensemble which played at Highland Weddings and balls in the great houses of Britain. Neil had his portrait painted several times by Raeburn.

We look forward to seeing you at the First Annual Niel Gow Festival in Dunkeld and Birnam. Sponsored by The Taybank, Scotland's Musical Meeting Place.