Скачать или смотреть John McGann (RIP) - The Stage/The Western Hornpipe (not commercially available)

From the early 2000s until around 2008 or so, I ran a website (Pay The Reckoning) devoted to various aspects of Irish Traditional Music. One page within the site was dedicated to showcasing mandolinists who played Irish music - some of whom I shamelessly cajoled into giving me permission to share their music - and I was fortunate that John McGann specially recorded this outstanding set of hornpipes for inclusion in that showcase.

Just to put this in context. Pay The Reckoning was a no-budget, low-profile website with a tiny audience. John was one of the world's most highly regarded mandolinists (and guitarists - as both backer and lead instrumentalist), with an interest in a number of musical genres apart from Irish traditional music - including bluegrass and jazz. At the time he was Professor of Strings at Berklee University. So it's a measure of John's humanity, his generosity and his humility that he was prepared to set aside time to make this truly lovely recording for someone he'd never met and was never likely to.

The Stage/The Western is a classic set of hornpipes. The Stage is fiendishly difficult - not that it's remotely obvious from John's playing! It was recorded by Michael Coleman way back in the "golden era" and later James Kelly made these two hornpipes one of his signature sets.

I was saddened to hear in April 2012 that John had passed away at only 52 years of age. And yet I also felt honoured to have been given a very special gift by him in the form of this unique and treasured recording. I'm sharing it now on YouTube in the hope that those listening will recognise in every note the warmth and generosity of the legend playing the tune and, like me, will wish John the timeless "rest in peace".