The Sun.
London, England, 1824-08-26 00:00:00

THE SCOTCH BALL FIDDLERS.

Immediately preceding the Cows, ALEXAN.
DER MACGILASUIEN, a native of Perthshire, conti-
nued for u number of years at the head of his
profession, and contributed much to keep alive
the increasing taste for our reels and jigs by his
own excellent performance, and also the judi-
cious selection which he contrived to make for
his band, from the many amateurs who, about
this period, seem to have been ambitious to dis-
tinguish themselves. His principal violoncello
was an Englishman, Joseph lieneagle, but he
did not remain long in Scotland.—Aftleck was
instructed by him, and we believe he also gave
Nathaniel Gow his first lessons on the violon-
cello.---!t was about the year 1750, we think,
that the assemblies in Edinburgh were first de-
lighted with the superior playing of an occa-
sional assistant, who was brought from Dunkeld,
and who was soon known among the musicians by
his peculiar and powerful method of bowing. His
upward stroke was never feeble or indistinct, but
was struck with great certainty and strength. To
this extraordinary power of the bow in his hands,
must be ascribed that singular felicity of expres-
sion w hich he gave to all his music, and the native
Highland gout of certain tunes, such as " Tul-
lochgorum," in which his taste and style of bow-
ing could never afterwards be exactly reached
by any other performer. Neil Gow was born in
Strathbrand, Perthshire►, of humble but honest
parents, in the year 1727, and, like Mackintosh,
was bred to the trade of a plaiding weaver. His
talent for music was early decided. At the age
of nine he commenced playing, and continued till
he was about thirteen, with no other guide than
his own untutored genius. An attendant of Sir
George Stewart of G rand tully,however, it is said,
at this time, gave him some instructions, and an
anecdote is related, remarkable for its conclud-
ing circumstance, and as being perhaps the first
acknowledgment of that peculiar professional
ability to which he afterwards owed his fame.—
A number of the best performers in the country
proposed a trial of skill, and young Neil, believ-
ing himself no match for masters in the art, at
first declined the contest, but was at length pre-
vailed on to enter the lists. One of the minstrels,
a blind man, was chosen umpire, and the prize was
adjudged to Neil Gow, by a sentence, confirmed
in its justice by cheerful acquiescence of the other
competitors. In giving his decision, the judge de-
dared he could distinguish the stroke qf Neil's burp
among a hundred players. The first distinguished
patronage with which he was honoured was that of

the noble family of Athol, where he always con-
tinued on terms of the utmost familiarity, and at
assemblies, not unfrequently addressed the Duke
jocularly by his surname, " Jock!" while his lin-
gers ran up the strings producing the signal of a
drouthy orchestra," the fiddlers diy !" Ile was
rapidly brought Into repute in the metropolis at
a time highly fortunate for his rising fame. The
circles of fashion in Edinburgh were then led by
the Duchess of Gordon, at whose celebrated par-
ties Neil Gow was a necessary ornament, and her
Grace soon introduced him to universal notice.

From this period, Gow's excellence was doubt-
less unrivalled in his department of our national
music, and, in truth, formed an era in the pro-
gress of its improvement, the way to which was
paved by his predecessors, and has since been
vastly indebted for its completion to his 50115.
We must say, however, that the style of Gow
had too much nature, and was too energetic to
please a modern assembly, accompanied frequent-
ly as it was by the sudden shout or heugh ! iu
quick tunes, electrifying and rousing the spirits of
the most inanimate dancers. ltaeburn's admirable
portrait of him, painted for the li on. Mr. Manic, of
innocence
Paninure, gives a complete idea of the Orpheus
haveto w
beguiledhose
g
notes thousandsiltsofce
on ooft acreik and pleasure,
beauty
and David Allan has introduced him with good
effect iu his Bighland Wedding, with a striking
likeness of his brother Donald,
who continued
long his constant, and steady violincello without
whom, indeed, in his latter years at' least, he
could scarcely be prevailed on to play a note.--
Though he had raised himself to independent and
affluent circumstances in his old age, he was al-
ways free from every appearance of vanity, and
retained to the last the same plain and unassum-
ing simplicity which marked his early and more
obscure years. The expression of his countenance
was spirited and intelligent, and his figure manly
and robust. His portrait has been repeatedly
copied as a model of what national partiality
would conceive a Scottish Highlander to be. In
private life, Neil Gow was distinguished by a
vigorous understanding, and was singularly acute
in the discrimination of characters of all ranks
with whom he had intercourse. The dif.
ferent publications which have appeared under
his name, and which contain not only his sets
of the older tunes, but many occasional airs of
his own composition, for instance, his " Lament
for Abercairney," "Loch Errochside," &c. evince
his genius, feeling, and power of embellish-
ment. Ile was twice married, and had a large
family by his first wife, Margaret 'Wiseman : his
second, Margaret Urquhart, had no children.
After a long life, spent in honour at the summit
of his profession, he died at Inver, near Dun-
keld, on the Ist of March, 1807. Solicitous to
bring his sons into the right practice of their art,
he wisely adopted efficient measures. Mackin-
tosh, formerly noticed, or Red Rob, as he was
called from the colour of his hair, with whom he
was intimate, had better opportunities, from his
residence in Edinburgh, and constant application,
and was himself a capital performer, of which by
this time lie Was lint ignorant, had his seat always
elevated a little above any other musicians when
he played at a party- The young Gows were
therefore first sent over to him, and continued
under his instructions till near the time lie went
to London ; but it was from their father that they
inherited that finished style and execution which
marked them as true descendants of Old Neil.--
( Edinburgh Courant.)

Miss PATON is considerably recovered from
her illness. We understand she has entered into
an engagement with Mr. AnzioLD, and will
shortly succeed Miss STEPHENS at the English
Opera-House.--(lllorning Post.)