Without Words: Gow's Lament

Most of the characters in the songs I've covered are fictional, or are, at the very least, only very loosely based on real-life characters. However, real people do suffer the losses and heartbreaks that the characters in these songs and stories do, and sometimes they are moved to express themselves musically.

One such case was the famed Scottish fiddler and composer Neil Gow, who lived from 1727 to 1807. Gow was married twice, first to Margaret Wiseman, who bore his eight children (including his son Nathaniel Gow, a noted composer in his own right) and after her death to Margaret Urquhart, whom he remained with from 1768 until her death in 1805 (Margaret is a pretty common name in Scotland).

When Margaret died, Gow was an old man who had outlived two wives and all but two of his own children. In this tune we can hear not only the sadness of losing his companion of half a lifetime, but some sweetness and playfulness as well. It's a fitting memorial, and it speaks volumes without a single word.