Comments on: Obituary for Kate McGarrigle

By: Berni Armstrong

Berni Armstrong — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:58:30 +0000

So sad to hear of Kate’s passing. Commiserations to family and friends. Too many of my heroes have gone in recent months.

Here is a song I wrote inspired by Kate’s loss:
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8767757

…and dedicated to her and all the other great artists who have faced the final curtain far too soon.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:55:11 +0000

The world is diminished by Kate’s passing.

Her beautiful music has that rarest of qualities – it nurtures my soul and refreshes my spirits. She will always live in this stranger’s heart.

Thank you, Kate.

With warm regards and condolences,

Simon

By: Don Walker

Don Walker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:12:05 +0000

When I first saw the McGarrigle sisters on SNL back in the 70’s I went out the next morning and bought the only two albums the record store had in stock–Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Dancer with Bruised Knees. The morning of her passing, I was thinking about The Walking Song and wondering what was up with you both.

All I can say is this:

In sneakers or boots or regulation shoes
Walking beside you I never get the walking blues.

Kate walks on in my heart!

By: Maureen

Maureen — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:21:58 +0000

Dear Anna and Jane, I’m yet another of your many thousands of fans who has found herself so moved by the loss of Kate.

Earlier today, I was reading some of the poetry of John O’Donohue, who was also taken far too soon. in February 2008. This particular poem brought your beautiful Kate to mind.

On the death of the Beloved

Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.

Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.

We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:

To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.

– John O’Donohue

From:
TO BLESS THE SPACE BETWEEN US
(entitled BENEDICTUS in Europe, Ireland and the UK

Maureen

By: John Hart

John Hart — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:35:16 +0000

I can’t really add anything to the all the beautiful tributes to Kate however I can say I’ve never been so deeply affected by the loss of someone I didn’t know, except of course through the music but what a gift that music is to us all.
Thanks to Anna (& family) for being so strong with the recent happy positive posts of Kate (Cheminant a la ville, the lip synched version on Gardencourt is wonderful)but also for her contribution to a magical partnership that enriched & graced so many people’s lives.

John Hart
Wollongong Australia

By: John Hart

John Hart — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:31:02 +0000

I can’t really add anything to the all the beautiful tributes to Kate however I can say I’ve never been so deeply affected by the loss of someone I didn’t know, except of course through the music but what a gift that music is to us all.
Thanks to Anna (& family) for being so strong with the recent happy positive posts of Kate (Cheminant a la ville, the lip synched version on Gardencourt is wonderful) but also for her contribution to a magical partnership that enriched & graced so many people’s lives.

John Hart
Wollongong Australia

By: Meredith Escudier

Meredith Escudier — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:36:19 +0000

We have lost a voice of spectacular originality, a spirited life force, a source of comfort, charm, thoughtfulness and playfulness and this leaves me utterly bereft. The sweet and spunky voices and lyrics of the McGarrigle Sisters have accompanied me for years; they have been my peers, companions and unpretentious truth-tellers. Et le rythme et l’énergie qui animaient leurs chansons en français m’ont apporté un sens particulier…identitaire… pour les années de vie que j’ai passées en France. Sans lutter contre « la mélancolie m’envahissant, » j’offre mes sincères condoléances aux sœurs, aux enfants, aux compagnons de route ainsi que mes remerciements de cœur pour le magnifique voyage que nous avons fait ensemble.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:54:02 +0000

Still play the music which sounds so fresh & authentic at the same time. As if these two sisters from centuries ago leap from your speakers and sing you these oddly modern sounding songs. That’s such a scarce quality. Seems so silly to say I’ll miss her because she’s still here, her records & music are still here, as wonderful, profound & funny as ever. So for me not much will change. For you: family & friends, everything has changed. And I wish you strenght & love.

Rob
The Netherlands

By: Julian Kabza

Julian Kabza — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:03:37 +0000

Fond memories of an extraordinary person –

a short piece For Kate Mcgarrigle, unfinished begun in 2003 – Can be seen at this address.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCYj1eQhNX8

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:02:57 +0000

I have written here a few times before, it’s quite strange this heart felt connection, but this morning when I woke and read all the news of Kate’s service, I thought I’d write again, one more time.
I read the published excerpts of exquisite words spoken by this remarkable family and of course I cried again! I had said to my family how much I wished I could fly across the world to say goodbye…that was just impossible….but on Wednesday, when you are all sharing the joyous memories of Kate Mcgarrigle in New york we will be at the Sydney Opera House watching another legend and while I’m there I will be be thinking of you all, most especially the divine Kate with genuine fondness as I felt she was part of our family.