The patriarch of the Scottish family of virtuoso folk-fiddle players. Gow and his family members brought the traditions of the previous 150 years of folk music and playing to respectable heights. His bowing techniques were unusual, unsurpassed, strong, and quite distinctive. Gow was patronized by the Duke of Athole and then the Duchess of Gordon. Requests for his playing came from all sectors of the aristocracy. His music, however much demanded, remained true to its simplicity and provenciality. In 1784 Niel Gow published a "Collection of Strathsepy Reels" in Edinburgh. It met with wide acclaim but did not distinguish between his compositions, those of friends and traditional melodies. Gow was depicted a number of times by artists of the day including Raeburn And Allan. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi