Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: A sensational find...

  1. #1

    Default A sensational find...

    Yesterday I was browsing through YouTube - as one does - and I stumbled across an incredibly beautiful song "Suantraí na hOíche" by Macdara Ó Faoláin. Everything about the recording had me breathless. Macdara's lovely playing of his unison-strung bouzouki, the melody of the song which he had composed, his mellow singing... As I said above, incredibly beautiful. Check it our for yourself https://youtu.be/ENYLmxSUqpk

    I got in touch with Macdara to compliment him on the song, his playing and the tone of the bouzouki he was playing. In the course of an online conversation, Macdara told me that he made the bouzouki himself and that as well as a highly accomplished musician it turns out that he's a luthier, making the most exquisite instruments. Check out the quality of his workmanship at http://www.mofluthier.com/

    And how do his mandolins sound? Well - as lovely as they look. Check out https://youtu.be/EQOD8mdDanE

  2. The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to Aidan Crossey For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: A sensational find...

    Thanks, Aidan. I love the sound of both the bouzouki and mandolin. The workmanship looks stupendous, too.

    For your (and my) convenience:

    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  4. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Jim Garber For This Useful Post:


  5. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Llanidloes, Wales
    Posts
    696

    Default Re: A sensational find...

    Thanks, Aidan, for the heads up – sweet music indeed. YouTube's auto-play followed it up with a video of Macdara providing beautiful accompaniment to his brother Pax's equally beautiful fiddle playing (a full 43 minutes, if you have the time).

  6. The following members say thank you to whistler for this post:


  7. #4
    Registered User John Kelly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Ardnadam, Argyll, Scotland
    Posts
    2,280

    Default Re: A sensational find...

    Thanks for the heads-up, Aidan. Lovely instruments and fine playing.
    I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. - Eric Morecambe

    http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOldBores

  8. The following members say thank you to John Kelly for this post:


  9. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Invergordon,Scotland
    Posts
    2,860

    Default Re: A sensational find...

    I first came across Macdara in a MC thread on buying a bouzouki from an Irish maker in Sept 2019.
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...ouzouki+makers

    I found it a very interesting thread, and it introduced me to a number of people I hadn't heard of before, like Macdara and Ultan Walsh and others.
    David A. Gordon

  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dagger Gordon For This Useful Post:


  11. #6
    Registered User Ben Vierra's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Vancouver, Washington
    Posts
    81

    Default Re: A sensational find...

    Sensational find, indeed!

    Looking at his website, I am truly impressed by the ancient bog yew instruments. What a privilege to be able to work with such a unique tonewood.

    I also enjoyed his comments on cedar: "I love cedar for bouzoukis and mandolins, it has an excelling warmth that makes such a homely sound. It’s very difficult to describe sounds, but cedar is like a warm blanket. It’s definitely my favourite."

  12. The following members say thank you to Ben Vierra for this post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •