John McCormack She Moved Through the Fair

[terrybriody]

Beautiful and sparse. Makes all later versions seem unnecessary

[HenryBrosowski]

Without any doubt the best version of the song.

[lethe51]

beautiful!

[Wexicanful]

22 years of age, and i'm crying in front of me computer thinking of people I've lost and the ex, beautiful.

[XxXmomoliciousXxX]

I hate this version

[TheUBIQUITOUS12]

@XxXmomoliciousXxX I think you could be in a minority of one.

[matharoofmaths]

such majesty!!!!

[geertdehoux]

Who is this splendid and deeply feeling pianist here, please ?

Thanks.

Geert Dehoux, Belgian classical pianist.

[gfmcc]

@geertdehoux indeed, lovely piano part.

[geertdehoux]

@gfmcc

Yes, it is!

[solsticecelt1]

@geertdehoux I think it was Teddy Schnieder who was Johns' pianist at this time. My brother has the album John Mc Cormack voice of Ireland and I'm sure the credit goes to Teddy Schnieder.

[geertdehoux]

@solsticecelt1

Thank you very much for the information!

I'll try if I'll find some more recordings of him on Youtube.

Greetings,

Geert Dehoux, pianist.

[Babyhowdy233]

@geertdehoux

This is the brilliant Teddy Schnieder, and the lovely arrangment is by Herbert Hughes.

[geertdehoux]

@Babyhowdy233

Thank you very much for the information!

Cordially,

Geert Dehoux, classical pianist.

[pjdonagh]

I believe this to be the Herbert Hughes arrangement ......can anyone confirm???

[gryphon50]

Thanks for this.

[jrakg]

McCormack, even at the end of his career, always "got it right" in the recording studio, rarely needing a second "take". You need hear this only once, also, and you'll remember it for the rest of your life. - John Austin, Australia.

[IlGattonero13]

Sweet and heartbreaking. And the lovely modal notes of the piano make it more so.

[childsplaymusic]

That is the most beautiful version of this song I have ever heard. Bar none.

[Ettoredipugnar]

I have this recording . In the states on fiesta records. Even though he would be dead in 4 yrs, and his breath was starting to go. He is such an artist. Its the best recording of this song

[CarlLafong01]

@Ettoredipugnar Late in his life, and yet still so sweet and pure. It says a lot about the artist that this was actually McCormack when his voice had coarsened a bit. The soaring and sweet tenor notes in the high register, so breathtaking in his operatic and early concert performances, were no longer in evidence. John McCormack at its worst so to speak, was so much better than most singers at their best.

[elrollo]

the part where he sings 'so softly' breaks my heart every time, such a great song

[saltburner2]

McCormack recorded this with Gerald Moore on 25 June 1941, after his official retirement. The arrangement is by Herbert Hughes. It is very moving indeed.

[MsCastiNgnets]

sung as if it were meant ...:)

[MBC1955]

It ought to sound like 'Belfast Child', where do you think they got the idea from?

[Francefighter]

Its a very great song.

I think,it sounds a little like "Belfast Child" from the Simple Minds,at least the Refrain.

[rmcdaniel423]

Nice to hear it in a male voice (as others have said), and also with that cool Irish lilt in the dialect.

[foleybarbarian]

Well he is the first person that sang this song, as he did write it i do think so.

[walkb4waking]

@foleybarbarian

hello, No it is actually a traditional Irish folk song (My dad sang it all the time) It was first collected in Donegal by poet Padraic Colum and musicologist Herbert Hughes, and published by Boosey & Hawkes in London in a work entitled Irish Country Songs in 1909.

[solsticecelt1]

This is so authentic, Mc Cormack does it justice I love the delicate piano music accompaniement, Teddy schnieder I think..

[petekernow1]

For over 50 years I have though McCormack the greatest singer ever! A starkly simple recording but it just aches with feelling. Magnificent.

[fendermac]

Back again to shed a small tear

[theandyman123]

I've just spent a half hour listening to others performing this song...this one is THE best...it should be sung by a man, to his lost love...this one is SO moving...

[Babyhowdy233]

@theandyman123

I totally agree!

[Junk281056]

@theandyman123 I agree it is a man's song . My Mum used to sing it and a beautiful singer she was too . I used to ask her to do it whan the grown ups all sat around and had a drink or ten . I asked her why she didn't sing it from a girls/womans point of view and she said that herself " It is a mans song " Russell :)

[jillianbland]

this fellow has lost nothing of a bloom, he adds the words 'my dead love ' I haven't heard that in any of the other songs, but will go back and listen. I love everything about this version, I feel that this must have been how it was sung originally. beautifu,l very very beautiful.

[TheAnnEM]

^_^

[paulostroff99]

Lovely singing! Bravo! TY NS.

[meltzerboy]

Although McCormack's voice has lost its bloom by this time, it conveys the pathos of the experience beautifully and somehow without maudlin sentimentality.

[CurzonRoad]

Excellent!

Many thanks to patriot4913 for posting, and to Nate for sharing.

Doug --

[solsticecelt]

My all time favourite Irish ballad, long live john count Mc cormick.

[mham73]

I'm convinced this is the best version I've heard yet and just keeps getting better with each listen. To paraphrase the Simpsons, you can actually hear the moment his heart breaks! Lovely post, cheers

[lorgain2]

Solsticecelt the musical arrangement by Herbert Hughes, from the poem by Paraic Colum.

[cleanears]

Beautiful and moving... Such lovely diction. Long live the DINOSAURS!!!!!!

[maire83]

I think this is still my favorite rendition of the song. Thanks so much for adding!

[solsticecelt]

I believe that this was originally a poem by Padraig Collum, but who did the musical notation?

[blahblahblah85]

It makes anne briggs version look saggy.

[dinastein44]

McCormack must have been in his late 50s when he made this recording. His voice was rather past its peak by then but still had typical beauty and charm. Bravo! Thanks for sharing.

[fendermac]

I weep again.Thanks so much for posting this.

[artoisdude]

Fendermac - you are definitely someone with eclectic musical tastes - I enjoy listening to the different stuff you send,thanks for sharing.

[chantdelouve]

A great fantastic love song.

Thanks Fendermac :-)

[jstuka1234]

thank for sharing this nice tune Paul!

[mizzissippiblues]

thanks for sharing this beautiful song fendermac

[humbuck59]

wow - that made the hairs on my neck stand up... thanks fendermac!

[Antarblue]

Thank You Mac!

[lenaspieltblues]

Thanks fendermarc for sending me this beautiful song!

[pinknblues1]

Great!I can remember as a kid playing my Grandads 78's of this stuff, 'The wild colonial boy', 'Slatterys mounted foot' etc Just proves again how powerfully seductive the old stuff is and how its made a few modern singers into millionaires!!

[blinddrunkal]

One of my all time favourite singers.

[BocaFriend]

Thanks, Fendermac! The crystalline piano is enchanting, too!

[lefthooklyrics]

superb...

[stratocasterbob]

Fendermac sent me here too....Is this Irish traditional folk?

[robertgroove66]

thanks to the eclectic musical taste of fendermac for sharing this!!

Rob

[RedGuitars94]

fendermac send it to me... nice vid

[mrkkerekes]

pretty cool...

[fendermac]

I'm weeping.Perfect.

[Jazzguts]

Hi Paul,beautiful what a soul and personality,very touching,great piano and voice,they certainly don't make them like this anymore, let's say: it's possible once someone has LIVED,greets Victor.