Who was Neil Gow?

[Anne T]

I recently bought XXXV and I really like "Neil Gow's Apprentice." Although the story is clear without any background knowledge - old man looking back on the different lives he and his brother have led in different lands - I wondered if Neil Gow was a real person and why is the narrator of the song his apprentice?

[gower flower (Shirl)]

Is this any help?

http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart441.htm

[david stevenson]

And you'll find Neil Gow's tunes all over the Scots fiddle repertoire.  Dougie Maclean was and remains an exponent when he picks up the fiddle.

[Anne T]

Thanks for the info, david and g.f. Fitting that he was a fiddle player then, as one of the things that strikes me most is the sympathetic relationship between the voice and the violin in the song.

[Paolo]

Hello all, and happy new year.
The Gow familiy has a unique place in scottish traditional music revival between XVIII and XIX centuries. Swarb's "Flittin" feature a stunning version of a beautifil haunting tune by Neil's son, Nathaniel.

Best

Paolo