A Biographical Dictionary of Fiddlers di A. Mason Clarke
Biographical Dictionary of Fiddlers. 1.09
distinguish the stroke of Neil's bow among a hundred players.
Having now obtained the summit of his profession at home, the distinguished patronage, first of the Athole family and afterwards of the Duchess of Gordon, soon introduced him to the notice and admiration of the fashionable world. From this period Gow's excellence was doubtless unrivalled in his department of Scotch national music; and formed, in truth, an era in the progress of its improvement which has since been completed by his sons. The livelier airs which belong to the class of what are called the Strathspey and reel, and which have long been peculiar to the northern part of the island, assumed, in his hand, a style of spirit, fire, and beauty, which had never been heard before. It is curious and interesting to inquire, on the principals of art, in what consisted the peculiar character of a performance which had thus charmed and enlivened the scenes of gaity and innocent pleasure with equal effect, in every rank and age of life. There is perhaps no species whatever of music executed on the violin in which the characteristic expression depends more on the power of the bow, particularly what is called the upward or returning stroke, than the Highland reel. Here accordingly was Gow's forte. His bow-
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Dictionary Fiddlers Neil Athole Duchess Gordon Gow Scotch Strathspey Highland Gow The There His
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