A lovely voice stilled
January 17, 2023 2:31 PM Subscribe
Seamus Begley died on January 7, 2023. This hit me hard, for some reason. I guess because I’ll never hear him again live.
A masterful musician whose accordion playing could be by turns rollicking or tender. He also had a sweet singing voice, and conveyed all the feelings in anything he sang. I feel honored to have seen him perform a few times, each was unforgettable. The Irish Times tributes says it well.
One example of his singing here (horrid video, do not watch).
I love this example of his accordion playing for the fact that he’s playing for the dancers!
A masterful musician whose accordion playing could be by turns rollicking or tender. He also had a sweet singing voice, and conveyed all the feelings in anything he sang. I feel honored to have seen him perform a few times, each was unforgettable. The Irish Times tributes says it well.
One example of his singing here (horrid video, do not watch).
I love this example of his accordion playing for the fact that he’s playing for the dancers!
There was a wonderful tribute show by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh on RTE Radio 1
posted by knapah at 3:27 PM on January 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by knapah at 3:27 PM on January 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
Ironically, I just finished reading Two Old Black Sticks by John Kerr and I think Seamus was mentioned in passing. The book itself is a look at the author's journey through the DC trad scene as both a dancer and a musician. It's a gentle and charming book that I enjoyed, but I'm biased because I overlapped with John Kerr (although I never met him).
posted by srt19170 at 3:40 PM on January 17, 2023
posted by srt19170 at 3:40 PM on January 17, 2023
Oh wow. I used to listen to his album with Australian didgeridoo player Steve Cooney all the time. I realize that an accordion and didgeridoo duo is many people's idea of not a great time, but some of it really was magical.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:54 PM on January 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:54 PM on January 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Such a gentle man. A couple of fillets from longer cites above:
The Early Morning Rain ["Gordon Chos-éadrom", ho ho!]
Bruach Na Carraige Báine - The edge of the white rock [IE EN lyrics] from the Cooney & Begley album Meiṫeal.
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:44 AM on January 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Early Morning Rain ["Gordon Chos-éadrom", ho ho!]
Bruach Na Carraige Báine - The edge of the white rock [IE EN lyrics] from the Cooney & Begley album Meiṫeal.
posted by BobTheScientist at 2:44 AM on January 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Thanks for this post. This was always one of my favourites, I really encourage everyone to listen to it all, it starts off sedate and finishes in a wild joyful flourish of song, guitar, and accordion.
posted by kev23f at 10:12 AM on January 18, 2023
posted by kev23f at 10:12 AM on January 18, 2023
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posted by knapah at 3:21 PM on January 17, 2023