Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)

Subject: Obit: Sean Maguire
From: belfast
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 03:47 PM

It is with great regret that I must tell of the death of Sean Maguire, the legendary fiddle player. Sean was a brilliant musician with unsurpassed technical skills and with a great sense of wit and humour in his playing. I am told by those who know about such things that he was also a great teacher. Manys a time I have listened to a fiddler in a session and recognised the influence of Sean's playing. He'll be greatly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire
From: GUEST,folkiiefrank
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 08:17 PM

Amen to that Belfast. Astounding musician! Had the pleasure of meeting him in Aberdeen many years ago with Joe burke, fantastic concert!

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire
From: Jimmy C
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 09:44 PM

Thats sad to hear. I just picked up a few of his albums a month ago at a flea market. His wife accompanied him on a few of the tracks. My own brother is a fiddler and was a great admirer of him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 24 Mar 05 - 10:04 PM

Wow, I didn't even know he was still alive. How old was he?

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire
From: Big Tim
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 03:23 AM

Born in Belfast in 1924. (From, Companion of Irish Traditional Music).

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 04:57 AM

Great fiddler, if a bit oddball compared with other traditional fiddlers- very classically influenced.

The Blue Angle- the Banks. Wonderful, queer stuff.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: greg stephens
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 05:09 AM

A great player indeed. His sort of playing went quite out of fashion when newer styles came in in the 50's and 60's, but nobody could listen to that technique and showmanship without admiration. i only met him once, but often played with his brother Jimmy, another excellent fiddler. Great men the pair of them

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 06:31 AM

Oddly enough I hope to be at The South Shields folk club on Sunday night where a great number of his admirers and those influenced by him still gather - so there will be a tale or two told that night I expect. I saw him many times in the North East where he was a great favourite with the Tyneside/Irish as well as the regual folk scene. His sessions with Joe Burke and Josie Keegan will live on in the memory.
R.I.P.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 27 Mar 05 - 12:13 PM

"Wow, I didn't even know he was still alive." (written above)
He survived many years after having an operation for throat cancer (cancer of the larynx I think). The last time I personally saw him play was a gig at a pub in Derry about two years ago, and he was in good spirits despite the difficulties of speaking with a voice box.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: belfast
Date: 27 Mar 05 - 02:14 PM

My apologies. The surname should be McGuire. His father was John Maguire but Sean preferred the "Mc" spelling. I should have known better. Mind you, I notice that another fine fiddle player Martin McGinley writing a splendid obituary in a newspaper made the same error. And I suspect that the year of birth given up there 1924 may be incorrect.

The Arts Council NI issued a statement concerning his departure.
Arts Council Statement
And it made me wonder if the Arts Council in neighbouring island ever noticed the death of a traditional musician.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: dianavan
Date: 28 Mar 05 - 01:58 AM

Is this the same Sean Maguire? I think you may enjoy this site:

http://www.jimmaginn.fsnet.co.uk/keanemcguire.htm

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: belfast
Date: 28 Mar 05 - 03:32 AM

That is indeed the man himself. And at the same site you'll find a wealth of photographs of many other singers and musicians from around these parts and elsewhere.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST,gordon tyrrall
Date: 28 Mar 05 - 04:41 AM

I went on a tour of England with Sean McGuire,and other musicians (Tom McConville,Keiran Halpin etc) organised by the much-maligned Dave Bulmer(who was always a great supporter of Sean) -in around 1980. He was a very lively character,shall we say.
His fiddling was extraordinary for all sorts of reasons.There was an obvious classical input(true of most "traditional" players it has to be said).I remember clouds of resin flying from the instrument as he played,and he used a quite staccato,attacking,but very accurate style.I saw him play loads of times and it was always a new experience,because what I recall most was his abilities in improvisation.This was in my opinion astonishing.You never felt it had become jazz,but he could weave all over a tune,and make something new of it every time.It seemed an effortless creativity.On the other hand,his playing was perhaps unfashionable ,in fact old-fashioned,particularly in slow airs.He used to play this tune called something like "The Valley of Desolation" - a real tear-jerker.Well-played,of course,but still ghastly!He would always preface this tune with "this piece never fails to captivate an audience" - a phrase resonant enough to enter the personal mythologies of myself and Mr McConville.
I was at his house once in Ireland,and was entertained to a prolongued demolition of every other musician he could think of.It was entertaining though!
He was born in 1927,according to the Arts Council site aforementioned.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 29 Mar 05 - 01:37 PM

Dianavan's link again in blue-clicky format.

McGuire was teaching youngsters in west Belfast until near the very end. He composed the Mason's Apron variations, made famous by Matt Molloy among others. If he'd copyrighted them he'd have died a rich man. His unique style of fiddling is legendary; not so well known is that he was pretty good with the uilleann pipes too.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 07:53 AM

Sorry to read the news.
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 05:28 PM

Heard him just the once. He was legendary and deservedly so.

RIP

Dave

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: Mick Tems
Date: 31 Mar 05 - 07:54 AM

It was in Newcastle many years ago that I first saw Sean Maguire's unique and breathtaking fiddle playing – he was quite a genius. Joe Burke and Josephine Keegan were with him then, and (I think) John Doonan and Dave Bulmer, who was a fan of Sean's. I've been in touch with Josephine since then and I must convey my condolences to her, likewise Joe too.

It was only last week, in Llantrisant Folk Club, that Rattle On The Stovepipe (Pete Cooper, Dave Arthur and Chris Moreton) were talking affectionately about Sean's mastery and his inventive and wonderful use of expletives, particularly when a novice pupil skipped his practice on the fiddle. Here's to you, Sean – as a fiddler, you kicked arse – in more ways than one.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: MR
Date: 31 Mar 05 - 04:03 PM

His is the wonderful version of The Mason's Apron - I think.

Mike

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 31 Mar 05 - 07:19 PM

Certainly was recognised in Scotland, Belfast: his "Mason's Apron variations" were played on Radio Scotland in tribute this week.
TB

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: warpy
Date: 31 Mar 05 - 09:15 PM

Sean was a lovely man.My father played with Jim for years and when the brothers were together they launched from trad Irish into jazz and swing and the pop of his youth is there to hear in his style.He and Jim always seemed to fit in "I've got Rhythmn" and Sweet Georgia brown to any home session.The floor boards rattled madly as both tried to out do the other with foot tapping.
He could play some great cajun tunes as well.I think they had an Aunt in the U S south and had both spent time with her.
Its great that his music is available still and the influence on other fiddle players will hopefully continue.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST,student
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 05:06 AM

Sean was a fantastic fiddler and a great teacher he will be greatly missed and will always be remembered. He influcenced so many people and will continue to do so.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST,CB - Fan
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 11:38 AM

Sean Magurie was actually born in Co. Cavan in a place called Mullahoran and moved to Belfast when he was young boy.

He will be sadly missed!

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 03:03 PM

Spent some time with him at 2004's Portpatrick Festival and had the pleasure of intro'ing him at a Friday night concert in the Downshire Arms there. Indeed, at Beverley Fest. earlier that same year, Malcolm Storey had said to me "I bet you don't know who that is?" No, I didn't - I too thought he'd passed from us previously. He was as lively as ever though in Scotland, drink was taken, he made a big fuss of Jean - my partner, and all in all, it was unforgettable.
I'm looking at a hand-written note right now that says "I can't speak but God said Sean, you can speak through your music. I thank God - he said, Sean I love you."

Both of us thought we might get asked back the following year, for Portpatrick is a wonderful place. In the event neither of us was but just for those few days it was an honour to have been in his company.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 05:40 AM

I enjoyed McGuire's whistle-playing, though he was better known as a fiddler

Belfast, I would like to see the obituary written by Donegal fiddler and journalist Martin McGinley. BTW, I used to go to music classes taught by Martin and he was a good teacher

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 04:46 PM

best fiddler that the world has ever known!!!! May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: belfast
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 02:36 PM

Martin McGinley's article on McGuire was in the Irish News, Saturday 26/3/05. It may be available online but I doubt it. RTE Radio One broadcast an excellent hour-long programme about him on Easter Sunday with contributions from Joe Burke, Paddy Glackin, Medbh O'Hare, Sean Keane (of the Chieftains), Tony McMahon and Nicholas Carolan (Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive) and others. It was good to hear people who shared my high opinion of the man. Among the recordings on the programme was one of him playing the pipes. I had forgotten that Sean was also a master of that instrument.

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: Young Buchan
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 06:55 AM

Yes he was indeed a very fine piper. He had a beautiful set of pipes which were made for him by Frank McFadden. There is an old recording on Beltona of him playing Ned of the Hill. I don't know if that is what they played on RTE, but if not, keep your eyes open at old vinyl junk stalls. I'm neither a piper nor a fiddler but my feeling has always been that he played much more 'freely' on pipe and whistle than he did on fiddle - perhaps I just mean less classically influenced.
Oh, he could also play guitar. But I wouldn't want that on my gravestone, so I won't put it on his!

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST,Dick Senier, Boston
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 01:44 PM

Sean is immortal. Who can forget his rendition of "The Coolin", "Ned of the Hill", "Over the sea to Skye", not to mention "The Moving Cloud (in the key of E), "Bonnie Kate", "Liebeslied (Fritz Kreisler)?

As able for comedy as for tragedy, Sean could imitate the bagpipes on the fiddle, play the same reel in three different positions. I accompanied him once at Carnegie Hall. He was playing into the mike and the echo came back to me about a half second later, so he had me watch his foot for the meter. Halfway through the tune he began to move his foot up and down erratically, purposely, giving me the famous wink. Mad and wonderful Sean !

Subject: RE: Obit: Sean Maguire (1924-March, 2005)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 06:53 AM

sad loss RIP