About The Album
We’re delighted to announce the forthcoming release of the album “An Irish Viola / Vióla Gaelach’ by Séamus McGuire (viola) with the multi award-winning guitarist Steve Cooney.
The recording, due for release on November 19th 2021, will be the first album of Irish traditional music featuring the viola as the main instrument.
The warm deep tones of Séamus’ viola resonate closely with the human voice, full of emotion and expression. Steve Cooney’s exquisite guitar playing brings the music to another level. Welcome to the lower-pitch world of the viola!
"The combination of the gorgeous mellow sound of the viola and the sweetly singing guitar gives a dreamy other-worldly mood to the music…." Jackie Small
"Séamus lights up the strings with what you always know is pure soul and so you stop to listen to the sound and the story of it, even if you’re supposed to be playing." Gerry O’Beirne
"An Irish Viola / Vióla Gaelach is a radiant achievement by two musicians at the summit of their skills" - Earle Hitchner
"The viola sounds vibrantly alive, played by Séamus with a meticulous touch bearing no hint of overstatement. Steve has established an ideal complement on guitar to the melodic viola-playing while not abridging his own vibrant musical imprint. Both musicians have managed to strike just the right balance between their instruments, and the interlacing itself borders on the miraculous" - Earle Hitchner
"The well-deep tones of the Viola have never previously anchored an album of traditional music, and Seamus McGuire's decision to shine a spotlight on this mellowest of instruments is very welcome." - Siobhan Long, Irish Times.
Watch out for more information soon!