St Patrick's Day : Three songs of Ireland : Jussi Bjorling, Paul Robeson, John McCormack.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

0:00 Jussi Bjorling : The Rose of Tralee (origin of words unclear-music Charles W. Glover) : Rec 1951 3:59​ Paul Robeson Danny Boy (Weatherley-Traditional Irish) : Rec 1954 7:25​ John McCormack : When Irish eyes are smiling (Olcott/Graff-Ball) Rec 1916

[@colinbrigham8253]

Thank you Michael 🤗

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@colinbrigham8253 It's always a pleasure Colin, thanks for listening.

[@olofalriksson2464]

I love Jussi Björling singing this Irish song fantastic!😊

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Olof. Yes, I certainly agree with you, I wish that he'd recorded more Irish songs.

[@Situnadei]

Three marvellous songs and three marvellous singers for St Patricks Day, Long live Ireland !

[@tonymargiotta2745]

Bjorling was phenomenal - GOAT?

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Tony. I'm a bit long in the tooth and had to look "GOAT" up but, "Greatest Of All Time", I think few could argue with that!!

[@mariantaylor7465]

Glorious singing on a beautiful day -perfect ty

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's a pleasure Marian, I'm glad that you like the different singers. Yes, it's a much nicer day here in Yorkshire than I was expecting, quite mild and lots of lovely sunshine.

[@phyllisramsey9531]

What a great way to enjoy St. Patrick's Day!! Love these songs! Love John McCormack, forever!!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Phyllis, I thought you would like this one. I always try to include our hero John McCormack..

[@phyllisramsey9531]

@@michaelmcgrailengland THANK YOU!!

[@michaelarnold417]

A pearl of great price! Such brilliant renditions, full of curiousities. Thank you for this St Patrick's Day gift!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's a pleasure Michael, I'm really pleased that you like the selection.

[@annmccolgan5929]

Paul Robeson , amazing. John McCormack , from my mother’s home town.☘️🇮🇪❤️👏🏻

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Ann, I'm glad that you like it.

[@pabloqueipo]

Excellent selection for this St. Patrick's day!!! ☘️☘️☘️

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Pablo, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@davidwisternoff5548]

I love these three singers , thank you so much.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure David, thank you for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@gerrymcardle9319]

Just beautiful 3 great singers and beautiful songs well sung . Why would anyone be critical, thanks for sharing.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Gerry, thank you for listening, I'm very pleased that you enjoyed the video. Sometimes people criticize for reasons totally unconnected to the music. I'm just glad that my own mind doesn't work like that.

[@edwardamosbrandwein3583]

@@michaelmcgrailengland A real treasure! Thx for posting it!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@edwardamosbrandwein3583 It's my pleasure Edward, thank you for listening, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed the video.

[@irishmike3514]

Mike, Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks Mike, Happy St Patrick's Day to you. I thought the video was going to be blocked, it was stuck for a long time for copyright checks.

[@irishmike3514]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Obviously, you have the "luck of the Irish"!!

[@anguskidd9886]

As is usual Jussi outshone. His voice was just tremendous.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Angus. If you like Jussi you might like a video that I recently uploaded of his 1959 O Holy Night. It has improved audio, an added Christmas greeting from Jussi, coloured photos and an on screen English translation. If you wanted to listen the link is kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKaqgZahqpd6nsU&lc=UgyHoeWr6XNAwZdf0dB4AaABAg

[@spgtenor]

Except here, McCormack blows Bjoerling away stylistically. Not only because he is Irish, but John understands the style. I think that without a doubt Nicolai Gedda, from the same country as Bjoerling, could sing the style of Irish songs perfectly.

[@Rosangela161]

So wonderful. Unforgettable melodies. Beautiful voices. Thank you for sharing this art work.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Rosa, thank you for listening, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it.

[@Rosangela161]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Another visit. Yes!! Love it.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@Rosangela161 And you're very welcome Rosa, I'm so pleased that you like it , all three were wonderful singers and I love the songs. Paul Robeson did do better recordings of Danny Boy but, this was one that he made privately with some others and sent the tape to a friend.

[@reginaltedbrown]

JUSSI BJORLING as always stands alone....

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Reginal.

[@jeffreyheyl4854]

Thanks for the reminder of what great singing sounds like ! Bless you!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Jeffrey, thanks for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed the music.

[@oldemarcoto4055]

No hubo y probablemente no habrá una voz como la de Jussi Bjoerlin sobre este planeta. Suena a atrevida presunción, mi aseveración pero así lo siento.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Oldemar, Jussi was indeed a uniquely beautiful singer.

[@gemmadestate3216]

Paul Robeson is magnificent...

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

I'm glad that you like Paul Robeson Gemma, he's been one of my top favourites for longer than I care to remember.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

Once more you came up with a special selection of beautiful songs and fine singers! Once more I refuse to make any decision about which of the recordings I like best... The most unusual recording, though, at least for my ears, was Paul Robeson‘s rendition of „Danny Boy“ - because I‘m so used to hearing it sung by a tenor... or Deanna Durbin...! Thank you, Michael, for this wonderful treat! Lots of four-leaved Irish clover for you! 🍀🍀🍀

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Harriet, I'm glad you like this little selection, as you've probably guessed I'm a great lover of Irish music!! Paul Robeson was a great man, a champion of freedom ,civil rights and the working man and recorded a few Irish songs, even one connected with Ireland's struggle to free itself from British oppression.. This recording of Danny Boy was included on a tape of 20 or so songs that he had given to a friend and was only discovered after the friends death. Have a good night with lots of emoji shamrocks (they must be on here somewhere)

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Your fondness for Irish music is probably in your genes... where mine comes from I don‘t know... Only yesterday I learned that the typical Irish shamrock is not four-leaved, but three-leaved, symbolizing the trinity in Christian faith - so I actually should have sent you three-leaved clover like this: ☘️ ☘️ ☘️ ... Well, I suppose, as long as it brings you luck, it doesn‘t matter how many leaves it has... What you wrote about Paul Robeson was also new to me and very interesting! He was admirable both as a singer and a man! Maybe we‘ll get to hear some more from him on your channel...? I would be delighted! ⭐️ Have a very nice evening! Best regards! (Shamrock, shamrock, shamrock... ... ...)

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@hrbooksmusic7878 Sorry for the late reply Harriet. You'll be right about my love for Irish music, I wasn't particularly brought up with it , it just seemed to introduce itself into my life. With regard to the shamrock, I used to believe the old song that said it was found nowhere else other than Ireland and when we first went there in 1973 I took photos of it whenever we came across it. I was very disappointed some years later to find it growing in a mossy wood just a few miles from where we lived in Yorkshire. I think it's called wood sorrel over here. But there we are life's full of disappointments. I'm definitely going to include more of Paul Robeson in future, I think I've got most of his recordings and since I put the first one on a few people have expressed pleasure including another German lady (ebrinie) who remembers him being in Germany. Thank you for the shamrocks, good night, sleep well.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Don‘t blame the poor shamrock for growing in your neighborhood - it probably was attracted by you and your fondness for Ireland, so it came looking for you! A very adorable gesture, if you ask for my opinion... I‘m looking forward to your next video and to more of Paul Robeson... though being a great tenor lover I do appreciate other voices as well! Quite a few, actually... Have a wonderful and bright day! ☀️ Strong wind and some snowfall here... I don‘t mind the snow, but the icy wind I could easily do without... (I‘ll keep my eyes open for the German lady you mentioned...)

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@hrbooksmusic7878 That reason for the shamrock never occurred to me Harriet, I'll bet your right. I'm going to include another Paul Robeson song at Easter but. after that I'll just pop one in occasionally. The weather here is miserable at the moment but as we can do nothing about it we'll just have to work round it. All the best, Michael.

[@Situnadei]

WONDERFUL LONG LIVE EIRE

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

The minstrel fell but the foeman's chains Could not bring that proud soul under The harp he loved never spoke again For he tore its chords asunder And said, "No chains shall sully thee Thou soul of love and brav'ry Thy songs were made for the pure and free They shall never sound in slavery" (From Thomas Moore's song "The Minstrel Boy" )

[@spmoran4703]

Lovely songs from a wonderful African American singer . Another from one of our Norse cousins and from our own Count John. Bless them all

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment.

[@gemmadestate3216]

Thank you Michael!

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

I have been st. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. My favorite colors are blue and GREEN.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Hello Chang, nice to hear from you. They are my favourite colours too, how could they not be when we love the mountains and valleys with beautiful blue skies and green grass. Ireland has an abundance of both. Very little pollution gives beautiful deep blue skies and large downpours of rain rich green grass!! When and why were you at St.Patricks Cathedral, were you sightseeing or have you converted to Catholicism!!! By the way, don't feel obliged to watch my videos if they are not really to your taste, I will definitely not be offended.

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Thanks for your kind words. I have visited two times my friend's house in New Jersey. At that time I have been.... I love no pollution. Now Korea has big problem dust pollution from China. I envy Ireland so much. I love your videos an usual. I leaned knowledge about music and history from your videos. Best regards.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@MountainwalkwithMusic Trust China to blow it in your direction Chang!!!

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Yes, Sir Michael. Good night!!☘

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@MountainwalkwithMusic Hello Chang, I was going to watch your latest video but when I clicked on it it said that it was unavailable. By the way, I had a dream last night about those clouds of dust coming over to Korea from China. The one I saw in my dream was broken up into what looked like words and when I managed to read them, guess what, they said "Made in China".

[@gemmadestate3216]

I left my heart in Ireland...what a nostalgy!!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

No better place to leave your heart Gemma (also Italy, of course)

[@gemmadestate3216]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Yes!I leave my hearth in the places where you can breathe good music...

[@johnhoie1]

The McCormack piece is one of the best acoustic recordings I’ve heard.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment John.

[@Situnadei]

Wonderful

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening, I knew you would like it if it included Jussi!!!

[@unclenogbad1509]

3 marvelous voices doing great justice to the songs. Wish you'd picked 'Kevin Barry' for the Robeson slot, though, he sings it with such compassion and understanding.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment and I certainly agree with you about Paul Robeson's wonderful recording of Kevin Barry. I usually do a video to commemorate the 1916 rising and I included Paul's Kevin Barry on one of those. If you wanted to have a listen the link to the video is kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYeWfnqcgNOkrtk Thanks again for listening.

[@brendanmccann2455]

👏😊

[@frankwalker5040]

Paul Robeson was a unique and wonderful singer, but I have a feeling he should have sang this song in a higher scale.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Frank.

[@dubbelhenke854]

Of course John McCormack wins this - small wonder. I cite aeneas4Dido here in the comment section: "McCormack blows Bjoerling away stylistically. Not only because he is Irish, but John understands the style..... I think he [Robeson] was a commanding bass, but singing Danny Boy in such a low key when it is usually done by a high tenor is certainly strange, and not as effective. Imagine John McCormack singing Old Man River, similar comparison." Very well expressed.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Dubbel but I do disagree in relation to Paul Robeson's recording. It's not his best recording of Danny Boy, I think he recorded it privately for a friend, but I think it's wonderful.

[@oralogarro9932]

Russia took this man in and treat him like a king.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment. He was a King in the world of music.

[@oralogarro9932]

This man is so love in Russia i think there a statute of him in a square somewhere in Russia all glory to Russia.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for this comment as well.