Comments on: Obituary for Kate McGarrigle

By: LAFFAILLE

LAFFAILLE — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:41:13 +0000

il est de ces gens que l’on connait sans jamais les avoir rencontrés. Kate est ainsi. Sa douceur, son humour passait et passe toujours à travers ses chansons. Nous avions eu la chance d’assister à un de leurs concerts (avec Anna bien sur et aussi Martha en premiere partie) à Paris il y a quelques années. Nous étions ressortis de ce concert boulversés, plus heureux qu en y arrivant.
Merci encore pour tous ces beaux moments passés avec vous 2 Kate et Anna.
Je crois que je peux dire que nous venons de perdre une amie.

By: Allan Eastman

Allan Eastman — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:32:37 +0000

I didn’t hear of Kate’s death for months because I was hidden away in Bali at the time, carefully avoiding any news from the world outside the walled garden. When a friend told me in Toronto a few months later, it was a surprising shock – as if someone I had known well and loved, had departed…

I didn’t know Kate sadly, except through the music but for me, that was a near life long friendship with her and Anna. In the last month, home on the little island in the Med, I have gone back to it all, hardly listening to anything else (except some cajun which I was turned back onto by the lively Porte en Arriere on TMH)- all the albums, all the songs, all the harmonies, all the mysterious melodies and brightly original arrangements.

For a long time I considered the Louvin Brothers to be the greatest harmony singers ever recorded- more siblings – but the sheer virtuosity of all the Sisters canon now convinces me that it is them…

The power of McGarrigle music is unique in my experience – whose other singing makes you fall in love with the people who sing?

The beauty of the poetry, the perfection of the song, the magnificence of the voice – how we will miss Kate. We are lucky to have all the music that is preserved. It will last a long time. In my case, all my life.

Much love to all her family and friends – feeling the loss I feel, how painful it must be for you.

But how wonderful that she lived…
Allan

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:50:37 +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: Ian Dornan

Ian Dornan — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:03:07 +0000

I had the immense pleasure of seeing Kate and sister Ann in a concert in Belfast in 1976 (or 77…) and I have never forgotten that. RIP Kate, thank you for so much movely music.

By: David Taylor

David Taylor — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:50:16 +0000

To all of the loved one’s in your life Kate. And to you Kate in Gods realm of
Heaven. I’m still in a state of shock and beyond immeasurable sad. I wasn’t even aware of your physical loss from this earthly plane. My deepest spiritual
Heart and Love, and Prayers go out to you, Kate. To, Anna, Rufus, Martha, Jane,
and to the rest of your immediate and extended family member’s. Your exquisite
Harmonizing, Song Writing, and the most truly amazing singing voices that have
Ever existed throughout all human kind. Kate and Anna brought so much joy and
genuine happiness into the lives of millions of people all throughout this planet. I was truly blessed to have had the blessing of watching and listening to your extraoridnary music, at The Bottom Line & also at Carnegie Hall in NYC.
When I consider the dozens of concerts I have attended throughout my life. My
Most special memories will always be, having seen Kate & Anna perform on those
Two very special occasions. Within the past week I was reading an AP wire story
on AOL. It was about Rufus. While reading about his upcoming CD. When I became aware of the tragic news that Kate had passed on. My eyes instantly flooded with tears streaming down my cheeks. I was beyond shocked, shaken, and very upset. My most deeply sacred prayer’s from my deepest inner heart, have been sent to God above. The world has lost one of the most beautifully, spiritually
talented human being’s who has ever walked upon the face of this Earth.

With The Most Deeply Sacred Respect. May God above shine his love upon You Kate.
Also upon all of the beloved individual’s within this most recent life and also Those who have already transitioned into Gods Realm of Heaven.

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