Niel Gow's Lament - Laura Risk with Voices of Music | Scottish fiddle tune

Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife, performed by Laura Risk as part of the Voices of Music "Musical Crossroads" concert, January, 2019. One of Niel Gow's finest compositions.
This performance echoes the portrait of Niel and his brother, Donald, by David Allan which is in the National Gallery in Scotland (go visit!).
In this painting, Niel is accompanied by his brother on the cello. Both players are using short bows of the earlier type, the violin rests on on the shoulder with no chin rest, and the cello is supported by the legs with no endpin. Both the cello and the violin are in 18th century setup which produces a more transparent sound; note the short fingerboards on both instruments. The first time 'round, the musicians play the tune with just cello and violin, as it is in the painting, on the return the full ensemble improvises an accompaniment. Because of the improvisation, each performance is unique.
Note that Niel's portraits show a unique chin placement on the opposite bout of the fiddle--we did not try that one for the video :)
The painting at the National Gallery: bit.ly/NielGow
Voices of Music
Hanneke van Proosdij and David Tayler, directors
Laura Risk, baroque violin
Alana Youssefian, baroque violin
Peter Maund, frame drum
Hanneke van Proosdij, harpsichord
William Skeen, baroque cello
David Tayler, archlute
Niel Gow's second wife, to whom the lament is dedicated, was Margaret Urquhart of Perth; they were married for more than thirty years.

[@jimcrawford5039]

Brought a tear to this celt’s eyes. Been gone for near 60 years, the music pulls at the heartstrings. Beautiful!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you.

[@warder1701d]

I had the opportunity to go to Scotland a couple of years ago, essentially it was a dream come true. When I stepped off of the plane I felt like I was home. The first four notes of this song, and I had that feeling again. I've never had this reaction to music before. Thank you for sharing!

[@jaji8549]

I was recently introduced to this piece and the Gow family of composers while at Sturbridge Village. This specific rendition and channel were recommended to me to hear the best version. Thank you for not disappointing!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you!

[@KevOSMusic]

Such a wonderful celtic air full of traditional ornamentation.

[@ying-tsuloh3520]

Brought me to tears when I saw this live. So beautiful!

[@edmundcua3396]

Beautiful rendition. I can imagine and feel this music when played in the scottish highlands.

[@dunn4k]

Absolutely beautiful Laura!

[@VoicesofMusic]

:)

[@M.R.1976]

Best performance ever, genius!

[@philipandrewlabriaga8673]

This is the first performance of a piece coming from you Voices of Music that made me cry. Thank you so much.

[@deannesherriff3247]

I recently lost a much loved Aunt, and I played this on recorder for her. Thank you so much for this lovely rendition.

[@yakubekartawidjaja]

This is absolutely the best version!! Thank you for posting..

[@VoicesofMusic]

Glad you like it!

[@menatoorus5696]

متعة الفؤاد و سحر السمع و عبير الخلود العراق يستمع A pleasure to the heart, a magic to the ears and a taste of immortality. Iraq is listening to you.

[@professorleonardobeduschi1766]

I can't unterstand this music: such a wonderfull elegy, sad to the bone, but in a major tone... Great interpretation, thank you so much Voices of Music!

[@interqward1]

The 'secret' is in the drone voicing... ...and of course, the kelpies... : )

[@tonyschram1260]

You don’t have to understand it, just enjoy it

[@maciejrzepczyk6562]

It's lamenting happy but lost memories.

[@richardbreitling6537]

The beauty of the human drama - even in grief and mourning. We cannot judge how beauty comes… Wonderful performance!

[@hitchnroll3112]

Very sentimental and poignant piece performed with grace and restraint by the ensemble. Thanks for a beautiful musical journey into history 🤗🤗🤗

[@tudaer]

I just know this band today...I can't leave myself from your music... All are so so beautiful. Especially those nice Baroque bows and instruments...Superb

[@moret1957]

Música que sacude el alma y nos arranca una lágrima de pena,dolor ,nostalgia,maravillosamente interpretado por Laura Risk,gracias por compartirlo!!!

[@ragan1425]

Beautiful! Thank you

[@moniacentineo3111]

Meraviglioso. Beautiful! This music is sweet, sad and beautiful. Thank you.

[@ivysioux4945]

What I have to choose? I really don’t know if I have to cry or to die on this such beautiful and sadness amazing music!❤️🎶❤️

[@matiasbarth5121]

Amazing song, superb performance... Thanks for sharing, VoM!

[@VoicesofMusic]

You are very welcome.

[@hellomate639]

@@VoicesofMusic I want the drum used in this... what maker is it?

[@maplebrook1955]

Marvelous acoustic affect from the hall. Tasty tune! I could almost hear the Gaelic and smell the bannock in the oven.

[@VoicesofMusic]

:)

[@MrMaoguitar]

What a beauty! Thanks to share this performance.

[@comesahorseman]

Softer sound from a baroque violin ...it works, nicely done! 👏

[@Love2FlyKAP]

It brings tears to my eye, so beautiful.

[@PeterJohnsonWales]

So moving. Beautiful

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you.

[@alisaholainen6334]

Oh my gosh! It is so touchable and lovely, indeed! Thank you very much for this beautiful music.

[@VoicesofMusic]

You are very welcome.

[@JustFiddler]

my favorit! greeting from bali island

[@camilam6342]

I love your work! I think that this kind of music touches the heart in a way that no one knows.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you.

[@domoneyartists1780]

Beautiful, feels just right for this stressful time. Greetings and thanks, from Toronto, Canada!

[@jgcaesar4]

Just shed a tear or two. Lovely.

[@sallyjjdavis]

Very nice to see ceòl mòr music being shown on this channel

[@VoicesofMusic]

Tapadh leat!

[@baroqueman1]

I was moved to tears within the first few bars of this. What more can I say about it ?

[@Garrett_Rowland]

Very interesting piece. Something about it feels very modern.

[@hellomate639]

It's because the folk musical styles of Ireland and Scotland are quite popular as a composition style today.

[@OBATET]

Una música meravellosa. Wonderful music

[@MicanTorban-hh8ql]

Just one word : beautiful.❤

[@iainthegrouch]

Superb in every way. Fantastic

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you!

[@hanshoning9529]

iedere dag luister en kijk ik ,naar deze prachtige klanken het geeft rust en vrede

[@weerobot]

Totally love....Voices of Music....xx

[@mathew8]

Great composition, great performance, great spirit !

[@tonyschram1260]

Nicely done, outstanding 👍

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@adrenalinefamily8063]

Dang. That just about made me cry. Loved it so much.

[@RICARDOVAUCHER]

An extraordinary performance, I love it! Congratulations!

[@alvavipato]

How nice to hear them, congratulations.

[@seamusmcguire8657]

A beautiful performance! Bravo

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you, thanks to Niel Gow

[@Shauna0829]

So beautiful, and I love the arch of the arrangement.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you.

[@lizcloutier8190]

Brings tears to mine eyes...

[@anderleyadv]

Amazing! Thank you!!!

[@theclown3967]

This lament is for his second wife. No mention of what happened to the first one. Baller move. Beautiful tune

[@VoicesofMusic]

His first wife was Margaret Wiseman, and they had five sons and three daughters. No lament for the first wife, but son Nathaniel was a composer of note, as well as music director, publisher and royal trumpeter.

[@theclown3967]

@@VoicesofMusic Nathaniel Gow's lament for his brother. Written for Niel?

[@MarthalieThurstonSachemPiper]

Thank you for the beautiful music

[@VoicesofMusic]

Our pleasure!

[@sssaaa1579]

It’s just pretty and Perfect

[@c.g.marseille4510]

the violin of Laura sounds as a viola, her interpretation is very good

[@denisiapearson4131]

So talented!

[@luizabner1325]

qué melancólica la interpretación... Genial!!!

[@cloudstrife7668]

I cried 🤧 very beautiful

[@bassdivamtm]

Beautiful as always William Skeen🎶😄

[@TINGSTARR]

I’ve watched this 22 times.... so far. ❤️

[@VoicesofMusic]

:)

[@mamiesgame]

Times beyond counting for me ❤

[@Sashikomu]

Fantástico, fenomenal como a verdadeira música nos aproxima do belo! Deus abençoe a todos.

[@chizo1205]

What a beautyfull sound and playing, omg thank you

[@sgtcrab2569]

Baroque fiddle and bow...nice!

[@lindaguerrero3256]

THANK YOU🌹

[@michaelreaper666]

Bravo .. That sounds great ..many thanks .. :)

[@c.g.marseille4510]

this is a very intense grief

[@hekaputra483]

Love from Indonesia 💕💕

[@jfduran9176]

Emocionante. Música que genera en nosotros un profundo sentimiento telúrico. Talvez por la afinidad con mi sensibilidad gallega.

[@이경복-o2r]

올린이 자신의 지나온 시간을 슬퍼하면서, 감미로운 소리로 이야기 하네요👍❤

[@deborahsoule9698]

This is absolutely lovely. As for the 6 "dislikes", apparently there are people in the world who spend every waking minute trolling through KZbin clicking the thumbs down symbol on every video posted. :-(

[@VoicesofMusic]

No worries!

[@crypton_8l87]

some people have no idea what to do with beauty.. they're actually afraid to indulge in it.. so they dont understand someone else's preoccupation with the sublime

[@MsBrunoMb]

Maravilhoso!

[@ericbremer6314]

Woooow.................................!!!!

[@gothips]

Sounds scandinavian but cant name it, love it.

[@joeljacquelin]

Magnifique

[@prospero6337]

Spirit making telling clearing :>

[@xkellieeh]

Bravo!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thanks!

[@erkandemir4570]

Bravo

[@ulrikebergmann5383]

Friedliche Musik !

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you.

[@mbjsrl]

Are baroque instruments always tuned down half a tone (a C# where normally there would be a D) ?

[@VoicesofMusic]

Not always, but very often. Some of our videos are at 466Hz, a half step higher (the Cima video).

[@stefaniaoriente6299]

i love you...wonderful....

[@ShubhamKumar-oe5oo]

Is this a special kind of violin or just the playing technique is different?

[@VoicesofMusic]

It's a violin, bow and technique from a time long past, like what Niel Gow would have played

[@tsb3093]

@@VoicesofMusicNeil….

[@VoicesofMusic]

@@tsb3093Although there is no standard spelling, Gow often used Niel and his grandson Neil.

[@weirdunclebob]

Beautiful sound, beautiful lament. Thanks! By the way, I can't remember the name of the cellist and I don't know the harpist's name. Can you help me out, please?!

[@VoicesofMusic]

(FYI: all the names of the musicians are listed in the info and also at the end of the video) Voices of Music Hanneke van Proosdij and David Tayler, directors Laura Risk, baroque violin Alana Youssefian, baroque violin Peter Maund, frame drum Hanneke van Proosdij, harpsichord David Tayler, archlute The harpsist is Cheryl Ann Fulton, she's not playing in this piece.

[@weirdunclebob]

@@VoicesofMusic Ah, I didn't watch the credits at the end, that's why! I couldn't see their names in the blurb, though which is why I asked. Thank you!

[@VoicesofMusic]

@@weirdunclebob It's all good! KZbin should make it easier to see the blurb.

[@poyrazengin708]

Wich brand string use your violinst?

[@VoicesofMusic]

Laura is using Aquila strings for this performance. aquilacorde.com/old/early-music-strings/violin-family/94/violin-viola-cello/?lang=en

[@poyrazengin708]

@@VoicesofMusic thanks.

[@ericholt5954]

Eric Holt. Saudades a todos.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you.

[@patthewoodboy]

sweet :-)

[@c.g.marseille4510]

no, not sweet

[@c.g.marseille4510]

heavy drama

[@giulianagardabaroquecello9075]

W O W

[@JFroTheMusician]

Is the music to this available on the imslp?

[@VoicesofMusic]

There are a lot of versions on the internet but we made our own arrangement, will upload it eventually.....

[@FiddlerSteve]

The original's in Gow's 5th Collection of Strathspeys, Reels & c. I don't think that's on either IMSLP or the National Library of Scotland online collection (IMSLP has the first 3). It's a very popular tune in the Scottish fiddle repertoire, wouldn't be difficult to find online.

[@VoicesofMusic]

@@FiddlerSteve Book 5 is hard to find.

[@davidez5746]

​@@VoicesofMusicas adult violin beginner I become enamored to this version, bringing me to discover the early music as a target I want to grow in. I would kindly ask if will be possible to load here or elsewhere at least the violins sheet music.

[@AnaMaríaRiescoPagalday]

😊.

[@1tbo]

William Skeen, the cellist, got left out of the credits. He needs a better agent.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Credits: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpe7aaSnpNmqp80

[@brochanteur8253]

...

[@fredhoupt4078]

sad, as Irish laments always are. Such is life.

[@fredhoupt4078]

@chrismacsims oh? My bad....

[@samoday2992]

Yes he was my 5x grandfather . Gow means smith in Scots Gaelic .

[@georgehill9959]

Irish?

[@samoday2992]

@@georgehill9959 no Scottish