Happy! - Mar 22 (Niel Gow)

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 22 (Niel Gow)
From: Scotus
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 10:54 PM

For the definitive Gow recording check out 'Niel Gow - Even Now' by Pete Clark. It was recorded in Blair Castle ballroom using Gow's original fiddle and with accompanying instruments as Gow used himself.

Absolutely perfect!

Jack

Subject: RE: Happy! - Mar 22 (Niel Gow)
From: Tootler
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 06:12 PM

Nevertheless, his lament on the death of his second wife has to be one of the finest slow airs ever written.

I am in the process of trying to learn it and cannot make up my mind whether it sounds better on my concertina or tenor recorder.

Subject: Happy! - Mar 22 (Niel Gow)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 08:29 AM


Happy Birthday!

Fiddler & publisher of old Scottish melodies

Niel Gow

was born 3/22/1727
(d.Mar 1, 1807)

Jack Campin gives us:

"The obit that appeared in the Edinburgh papers just after his death ran:

          Gow and time are even now:
          Gow beat time, now time's beat Gow. 

In fact Gow was not as important a figure in Scots music as he's generally cracked up to be; he ended up being famous for being famous. He composed very little compared with his son Nathaniel, and Nathaniel did most of the editorial work for the anthologies that came out under his father's name. I've looked through most of the Gows' output in recent months [c.2002], and have come to have a lot more respect for Nathaniel's work than is currently considered cool. Plagiarizing arsehole that he was, he was one hell of a musician."

Early warning notice: This series of the Happy File noncontinues beginning April 16.
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