Shawn McSweeny
  • Male
  • Toronto, ON
  • Canada
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Shawn McSweeny's Discussions

Alex Magee Plays `Canadian Capers`
31 Replies

To help celebrate Canada's 158th birthday today, Alex Magee plays his…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Shawn McSweeny Jul 12.

Sid Turner Plays 'Chansonade'
4 Replies

'Chansonade?'  Well, not really. That's the title his old friend Tarant…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by thereallyniceman Jun 23.

Ossman`s 'Ragtime Medley' Transcribed
11 Replies

The Clifford Essex score for 'Ragtime Medley' doesn't represent Ossman's…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Shawn McSweeny Jun 16.

Van Eps Plays "Hot Foot Sue"
6 Replies

Fred Van Eps never recorded "Hot Foot Sue" . . . . or did he?Late in…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by thereallyniceman Jun 7.

 

Shawn McSweeny's Page

Latest Activity

Shawn McSweeny replied to IAN SALTER's discussion CUNINGHAME MANUSCRIPTS?
"Thanks Ian  .  .  .  If only the player window could also improve the recording quality."
Nov 22
Shawn McSweeny replied to IAN SALTER's discussion CUNINGHAME MANUSCRIPTS?
"Somerset_March%20_J_P_Cunninghame.mp3 Marmie_Rag_J_P_Cunninghame.mp3 All three should be at or near score pitch and tempo.  "
Nov 21
Shawn McSweeny replied to IAN SALTER's discussion CUNINGHAME MANUSCRIPTS?
"Perhaps Ian (the Really Nice Ian) will create a little player window for the recording."
Nov 21
Shawn McSweeny replied to IAN SALTER's discussion CUNINGHAME MANUSCRIPTS?
"Great research and interesting story. Here is JPC playing "Wainalong Rag". Wainalong_Rag_JP_Cunninghame.mp3"
Nov 21
Shawn McSweeny replied to IAN SALTER's discussion CUNINGHAME MANUSCRIPTS?
"There are a few more recordings of JPC performing his own compositions  :  Easy Stunt Two, Minuet, Marmie Rag, Somerset March and Wainalong Rag. No score is known for some of these.  If your friend has a talent for record…"
Nov 11
Shawn McSweeny replied to Jody Stecher's discussion St Louis Tickle: New Arrangement for 3 banjos
"Enjoyed listening to the mp3. Nice arrangement and at a relaxed tempo, as ragtime was originally intended. "
Aug 29
Shawn McSweeny replied to Ethan Schwartz's discussion Compiling B.M.G. banjo solos
"Correct. No recording available for transcription, hence no opportunity to compare a recorded performance to the CE score."
Jul 26
Shawn McSweeny replied to Ethan Schwartz's discussion Compiling B.M.G. banjo solos
" Re : Is there some place that Ossman's recording may be heard?  Not that I'm aware of. It's one of quite a few that are so rare they are't found in any of the on-line collections.  "
Jul 26
Shawn McSweeny replied to Ethan Schwartz's discussion Compiling B.M.G. banjo solos
"Here is "Shufflin' Pete". I believe I posted this some years back but it didn't find its way to the library. Shufflin%20Pete%20Solo-%20Pno%20Acc-TAB.pdf This is one of several compositions where the UK publisher, usually CE,…"
Jul 26
Shawn McSweeny replied to Shawn McSweeny's discussion Alex Magee Plays `Canadian Capers`
"Assuming you are referring to the graphic at the top of the Discussion : in Photoshop I combined the original piano score cover art, a scanned and then "ovaled" photo of Alex, and added some text in a colour matching the deep green border…"
Jul 12
Shawn McSweeny replied to Shawn McSweeny's discussion Alex Magee Plays `Canadian Capers`
"Happy 249th Independence Day (a day late), Chris ! Let's hope the U.S. has many more. Thanks very much for sharing your much clearer version of Magee's performance. The Arden & Ohman duet was a treat."
Jul 5
Jody Stecher replied to Shawn McSweeny's discussion Alex Magee Plays `Canadian Capers`
"Ning strikes again. My reply has vanished. And so has my second attempt.  Here comes the third I hope.  The Magee recording is playing nearly a half step sharper than the piano recording. The pianos are playing at C on the duet recording.…"
Jul 5
Jody Stecher replied to Shawn McSweeny's discussion Alex Magee Plays `Canadian Capers`
"Hello Chris!.  I'd love to hear the recording.  It does not seem to be attached or linked to your post. -jody"
Jul 5
F. Chris Ware replied to Shawn McSweeny's discussion Alex Magee Plays `Canadian Capers`
"And, herewith the actual files!"
Jul 5
F. Chris Ware replied to Shawn McSweeny's discussion Alex Magee Plays `Canadian Capers`
"Greetings to all, Happy Canada Day, three days late, in the spirit of our two nations' longtime friendship and trust, despite our current US administration's appalling efforts to the contrary. Anyway, the original recording of Magee is not…"
Jul 5
Jody Stecher replied to Shawn McSweeny's discussion Alex Magee Plays `Canadian Capers`
"Back in the middle half of the 20th century there were some rough-hewn country people who made good music with their voices and instruments that was beautiful and compelling in spite of a rough timbre... not because of  the scratches,…"
Jul 4

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Comment Wall (2 comments)

At 2:50pm on February 19, 2014, thereallyniceman gave Shawn McSweeny a gift
At 4:39 on January 21, 2016, Peter LaBau said…

Hi Shawn- sorry to be slow to respond, I only check in here once in a while, all the while knowing I need to do it more frequently! Thanks so much for your note, and it's so nice to know that something I did affected you in a such a positive way. In answer to your question- yes, I have the banjo Doug did for me all those years ago- in fact, he did the banjo twice for me. Th original inlay patterns he did on the fingerboard had to be thrown away- the fret scale was off, and it never played in tune. As beautiful as it was, I had to replace the fingerboard, and in so doing I went from a flat board to a radiused one, which is what I have on all my instruments now. The flat inlays couldn't be moved over, so for the longest time, I had just the pear bars that descended from the nut, and the rest of the board was just blank. Two years ago, I sent the banjo neck back to Doug to have him add bars up at the top of the board, and add in some position markers in between. Here's what it looks like now:

 The pot is a 1910's Tubaphone- 11-1/2" diameter, and the neck is a 28" scale. I have another pot like this that I'm having Kevin Enoch make a new neck for- I'll use that one for raised "D" bass- I use two banjos when I perform- I find that retuning just one instrument never works out real well- the bass string keeps changing after changing pitches. You're Canandian, right? Toronto? It would be fun to meet up one day- I'll hope that might happen. All the best to you- Peter

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