Niel Gow’s Lament and Rosin the Beau

Born in 1727, Niel Gow was the most famous Scottish fiddler of the eighteenth century and a composer of dozens of dance tunes. Niel Gow was married twice. His first wife was Margaret Wiseman, and they had five sons and three daughters. In 1768, Gow married Margaret Urquhart from Perth and they shared a happy marriage until she died in 1805, which prompted his composition of one of his most famous tunes, this Lament.

Old Rosin the Beau (Rosin the Bow) is an American folk song popular in the 19th century which is probably of British or Irish origin. It was first published in Philadelphia during 1838.