Page 36 - What's In A Name - The Barry Pipes Canon

WHAT’S IN A NAME? The Barry Pipes Canon • 2005 - 2018 Niel Gow’s Farewell to Whisky 069-2014-June-Set&Link
This unusual 48-bar reel was on the April 2014 Annual General Meeting program. What an intriguing title! The dance appeared in RSCDS Book 34, published in 1986, although the tune actually dates back to 1799, attributed apparently to Niel Gow himself. At first blush, from the title, and the opening lyrics to the tune (picture caption, right) one might presume that Niel had found himself unfortunately having to “go on the wagon” from a surfeit of usquebaugh, so to speak, especially since a further stanza in the tune’s lyrics says... “yet the doctors they do agree, that whisky’s no the drink for me.”
Before we jump to any conclusions, however, let’s pay heed to a horrific event, at least to some. In 1799, the barley crop in Scotland failed, the harvest being so poor that no barley was permitted to be used for distilling. As confirmed in writing by Niel’s son Nathaniel several years later, the tune does allude to prohibiting the making of whisky in 1799. It is expressive of a Highlander’s sorrow on being deprived of his favourite beverage.
All that said, who was Niel Gow? Is the spelling of Niel a typo?
Born in 1727, the infant Gow was christened by his parents as indicated: Niel – not Neil or Neal! While his father was a plaid weaver by trade, Niel started fiddling, as in violin playing, at the age of nine and quickly became competent with the bow and ultimately, he came to enjoy the patronage of the Dukes of Atholl.
Earl of Mansfield 070-2014-September-Set&Link
From Set&Link, newsletter of RSCDS Toronto
William David Mungo James Murray, Earl of Mansfield
About 5 or 6 years ago the current President of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Dr. Alastair MacFadyen, took office. He succeeded a Scottish nobleman named William David Mungo James Murray, the 8th Earl of Mansfield, who had served as President of the RSCDS with distinction for over 30 years.
As with many important persons involved with RSCDS over the years, ultimately having a dance devised in one’s name is virtually standard procedure. It fell to Aberdonian John Drewry, a prolific dance devising icon within RSCDS, to put together a 4x48 reel to celebrate the Earl’s presidential performance. That was back in 1980, when the Earl had been appointed Minister of State to the
Dido Belle with her cousin Elizabeth Murray. Painting formerly attributed to Johann Zoffany. (Wikipedia)
UK Parliament’s Scottish Office. But why get into this now?
Well, it so happens, as film buffs will know, that a British film called Belle was released
recently. The stimulus for this film was a beautiful painting commissioned in 1779 by a British aristocrat to hang at his home, Kenwood House, one of Britain’s stately homes, which is situated close by Hampstead Heath in North London. The aristocrat? William Murray, the 1st Earl of Mansfield and, of course, an ancestor of the 8th Earl. This ancestor happened to be Lord Chief Justice of England at the time.
Some critics of the film have questioned
its historical accuracy. The painting was
traditionally attributed to Johann Zoffany, but the attribution has been refuted. However, the work does exist and apparently can be found at Scone Palace in Perthshire.
As well as playing the fiddle, Niel composed many beautiful Scottish airs. Even though he barely knew how to read music, he has been credited with dozens of compositions. Robbie Burns himself was present at a concert given by Niel. Robbie took such a fancy to one of Niel’s tunes called Loch Erroch Side that he secured a copy and set his Address to a Woodlark to Niel’s music.
Niel’s life came to an end in 1807 at the age of 80. He is buried in the churchyard of Little Dunkeld Kirk. His epitaph:
TIME AND GOW ARE EVEN NOW GOW BEAT TIME, NOW TIME’S BEAT GOW. ◼︎
The painting is a likeness of a young lady named Dido Belle. She was a member of the Kenwood household. Born in the West Indies of mixed race, Dido was the daughter of Mansfield’s nephew. The film also involves legal issues concerning slavery, and Mansfield, the 1st Earl, was required to rule on a very significant slavery insurance case in England’s Court of King’s Bench. In the decision, Mansfield ruled against the litigant, a ruling that was seen to contribute to the abolition of slavery in Britain.
You've surely heard o' famous Niel, The man that played the fiddle weel, I wat he was a canty chiel',
And dearly lo'ed the whiskey, O!
Interesting for us as Ontarians is that the film actually made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival last September and features veteran English actor Tom Wilkinson as the 1st Earl of Mansfield and introduces Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Belle. ◼︎
Portrait of Niel Gow, 1787, by Sir Henry Raeburn.