Silver Threads Among The Gold

Silver Threads Among The Gold, Sung by Father Sydney Mac Ewan.
CD Compiled by Michael Nash (Tenor)
CD's available from http://www.michaelnashmusic.com
Michael Nash compiles the recordings of Canon Sydney MacEwan


Published on Tuesday 6 November 2007 11:13

ONE of the region's most accomplished tenors, Limerickman Michael Nash, has realised a lifelong ambition by compiling and producing the recordings of the famous Scottish tenor, the late Canon Sydney MacEwan.

The new cd, 'Somewhere A Voice is Calling,' includes 24 songs by the renowned singer and is on sale locally at Empire Music in O'Connell Street.

The original recordings have been made over the past 50 years with the oldest one going back to 1934 and included are such gems as Somewhere A Voice Is Calling, Galway Bay, Gentle Annie, Macushla, My Ain Folk, I Hear You Calling Me, Bonnie Mary of Argyle and Mother Machree.

Born in Glasgow in 1908, Sydney MacEwan was in demand as a boy soprano and as a student in Glasgow University his reputation spread throughout Scotland. He went to the London Royal Academy of Music where his chief patrons were music critic Compton MacKenzie and Count John McCormack.

Sydney entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1944. He was positioned in the diocese of Argyle and the Isles but continued to make singing tours to America, Australia and Ireland. At the age of 50 he decided to retire from singing, although at his peak, and he died in Glasgow in September 1991.

Michael Nash has always been a keen admirer of the singing qualities of Canon MacEwan and includes many of his songs in his own vast repertoire.

It has taken Michael over two years to complete the compilation: "Because all these recordings are over 50 years old I was able to get permission to re-master them and include them in the one cd," Michael Nash told us this week. "I had to make a few trips to Scotland where Peter Mallan, who was trained by Canon Sydney, was particularly helpful. The bulk of the collection of original recordings were given to me as a gift by Mr Mallan which consisted of 28 '78 inch' recordings."

Putting together the compilation was an exciting adventure for Michael Nash.

"The Canon made many visits to Limerick during his singing career. He was a close friend of Canon Cowper, DD, who was a curate at St Patrick's Church in Limerick and later parish priest in Kilmallock," recalled Michael. "He sang in the Savoy Theatre in Limerick on a number of occasions and one of his first visits here was for a concert with Maire Ni Scolai, the Irish folk singer, in the Savoy in 1950. It was through his friendship with Canon Cowper that he sang on many occasions in Kilmallock. Even when he was retired from public performances, Canon MacEwan visited Limerick almost every year on his annual holidays."

Putting together such a magnificent collection of songs by the famous Scottish tenor is quite an achievement by Michael Nash. The cd is now expected to be snapped up by fans of the late Canon Sydney MacEwan as well as music lovers of quality recordings and will be on sale locally as well as in nationwide outlets

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[mrjmanning]

I've always liked Fr. Sydney MacEwan..and he does a great joib with this song

[frankthegrove]

Thank you Michael for bringing me back to my late father's respect for the great Canon Sydney MacEwan