Hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed An Irish Viola/Vióla Gaelach album, made with Steve Cooney, McGuire is now embarking on a national tour in a new trad collaboration organised by Music Network. Also featuring singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Niamh Varian-Barry along with guitarist Gerry O’Beirne, it promises to highlight the warmth and richness of McGuire’s viola playing.
The tour begins in Wexford’s National Opera House next Wednesday, and criss-crosses Ireland before ending at the Irish Cultural Centre in London on February 18. Full tour details are available HERE.
Here is a playlist of tracks that have inspired McGuire over the years, along with his reasons why.
1. Shauna Mullin: The Heathery Hills
Once in a while, a voice comes along which stops you in your tracks. Shauna Mullin’s is one of them. Singing is imprinted in her DNA: her grand-uncle was the renowned traditional singer Paddy Tunney.
2. The Danish String Quartet: Minuet No 60
Exploring the fascinating territory between traditional and classical music is close to my heart. The Danish String Quartet make a similar journey on their album Last Leaf, unveiling the beauty and depth of several old Nordic melodies. Among them is this gorgeous minuet.
3. Paddy Killoran: The Humours of Lissadell
As a youngster, I had the privilege of meeting Paddy Killoran during one of his visits home to Sligo from the US. He was kind and encouraging to me as a young fiddle-player, signing his autograph “from one violinist to another”.
4. Keith Jarrett: Someone to Watch Over Me
If you find comfort in peaceful, mellow piano music, then you’ll like the American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett’s album The Melody at Night with You. He’s best known for his improvised solo concerts and recordings; this album is a more low-key affair.
5. Liam O’Flynn and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra: The Brendan Theme from The Brendan Voyage
This timeless music holds special memories for me. In 1983, its Irish premiere took place at the National Concert Hall, and Buttons & Bows were invited to play a selection of Canadian and Irish tunes, reflecting St Brendan’s transatlantic journey. Some years later, as a member of the West Ocean String Quartet, it was an honour to perform The Brendan Theme with Liam O’Flynn and Arty McGlynn at St James’s Church in Dingle.
6. Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill: Méilte Cheann Dubhrann
Sometimes, there’s a bond between siblings that allows them to perform together with remarkable intuition. Tríona and Maighread have that gift.
7. Yo-Yo Ma: Prélude, Cello Suite No 1 in G Major by JS Bach
In 2015, my wife Una and I were lucky enough to get tickets for Yo Yo Ma’s epic performance of the six Cello Suites by JS Bach at the Royal Albert Hall. It was a truly remarkable event. I sometimes play the much-loved prelude to Suite No 1 as a warm-up piece on the viola.
8. Mícheál Ó Suilleabháin: Ah, Sweet Dancer
In 1988, I played at the Cibeal Cincíse festival in Kenmare and had the honour of sharing a few tunes with one of my musical heroes, Mícheál O Súilleabháin. We discovered that we were both due to appear a few weeks later at the Yeats Summer School, so Mícheál decided to compose a new piece for fiddle and piano inspired by a Yeats poem with a view to performing it together. True to his word, he presented me the next morning with a handwritten script which I still treasure.
For full details of next month’s Music Network tour featuring Seamus McGuire, Niamh Varian-Barry and Gerry O’Beirne, see musicnetwork.ie. To hear Seamus McGuire’s playlist, search for the Business Post’s user profile on Spotify
*Article by Andrew Lynch Sunday Business Post 30/01/2022