Neil Gow Epitaph, Scotland

Gow an' time are even now;
Gow beat time, now time beats Gow

Neil Gow, 1727 - 1807, was a musician and composer. Born in Inver, Strath Braan, to the west of Dunkeld. Son of a Perthshire Weaver, he was fine fiddler and regarded as the father of Strathspey and Reel music, composing many popular tunes. Successive Dukes of Atholl became his patron. Although Gow was based throughout his life in Inver, he did give performances as far afield as Edinburgh. Gow had his portrait painted by Henry Raeburn (1756 - 1823) and two of these are now in Blair Castle and the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

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