This tune came about by watching a certain Siamese cat (Frankie) sleeping in the afternoon sunshine.

Open G tuning played on my Lakewood M14CP.

Lockdown

(Frankie's) Daydream

A tune composed in celebration of my 40th wedding anniversary.

Played on my Lakewood M32 Deluxe and Dobro Deluxe guitars in open E tuning (E, g#, b, e, b, e)

Anniversary Waltz

Here's a recent composition in the style of an Irish Air.
Played in open C tuning (C, G, c, g, c, d) on my Lakewood M24CCP Edition.

Emerald (Glendalough)

This is a piece shaped by the legend of St Kevin of Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, as depicted in Seamus Heaney's wonderful poem of the same name found in his 1996 collection of poems 'The Spirit Level'. 

https://poetryarchive.org/poem/st-kevin-and-blackbird/

St Kevin's prayer ... 'To labour and not to seek reward.'  Sticks with me.

The piece is composed in an unusual tuning C,G,Eb,F,Bb,D (low to high) in the key of Bb, and played on my Lakewood M32CP Deluxe.

Image: Clive Hicks Jenkins - 'The Boy, the Blackbird and her Nest (St Kevin)'

St Kevin and the Blackbird

The Sound of Iona is the stretch of water that separates Iona from the Isle of Mull. 

Iona - one of those 'thin places'.

This piece was composed and performed on my Fylde Orsino.  Tuning is: CGCGCD (6-1)

The Sound of Iona (Lucifer Caged)

The title in memory of a trip to Cape Clear which is the southern-most tip of the Republic of Ireland.  Clear Island,  reputed to be the birthplace of Saint Ciarán (pre Patrick).  The island is also famous for its offshore lighthouse at Fastnet Rock.  

Played on my Lakewood M32CCP. Open G tuning (capo 2).

A Clear Day

A tune for my third granddaughter - Phoebe, Selene.  Phoebe means 'radiant, shining one'; and in Latin, 'bright'.  Also, Selene is the name of the Greek goddess of the Moon.

So, how to capture light and bright? 

This tune was written for an Ozark 'Nashville high-strung' guitar (model 33726 - in 'drop D' tuning.  The accompanying second guitar is my faithful Lakewood M32CCP also in 'drop D' tuning.

(Our sister) Phoebe

A tune composed by Seán Ó Riada.

Played on my Lakewood M24 Edition 

"Mná na hÉireann" (Women of Ireland)

Here's a traditional tune (O Waly Waly) which is often used in singing the hymn 'When I survey the wonderous Cross'.  Its also been used as the tune for the popular song 'The water is wide'.

Here' I'm playing it on my Lakewood M24 (2009) Edition, with the guitar tuned down a step to enable Bb instruments (brass) to play along.


When I survey the wonderous Cross

Written after a visit to Isle of Mull in 2022.  Played on my Lakewood M24 2009 UK Edition.  Tuning - open G.

The last Munro (Ben More)

This composition is inspired by the story of St Non - St David's mother.

Played on my Lakewood A14 in DADGAD tuning.

St Non's Well

Traditional Scottish Air - featuring Daniel Axworthy on violin

Skye Boat Song

A nostalgic sounding tune in celebration of my 40th wedding anniversary - played on my Lakewood M24 and a including some slide playing on a Dobro Hounddog Deluxe.

Tuning E G# B E B E 

This tune was composed on return from Iona in 2023.  The sound of Iona is the stretch of water between the Isle of Mull and Iona.  The island is of course one of those 'thin places' and deeply atmospheric.  The second half is an arrangement of a piece by Gordon Giltrap called 'Lucifer's Cage'.

 Played on my Lakewood M24 and featuring Daniel Axworthy on violin.  

Tuning C G C G C D (capo on 4th fret)

The Sound of Iona / Lucifer Caged

A lovely piece written by Gordon Giltrap.

Played on my Fylde Custom Falstaff.

Empty

Here's an attempt at Gordon Giltrap's 'Christmas Carol' - a piece inspired by the novel by Charles Dickens.

Played on my Fylde Custom Falstaff.

Christmas Carol

This piece started its life in 2009 after a walk along the beach at Whitesands Bay, Saint Davids, Pembroke.  On a later trip there in 2018, following the same route, the Cathedral bell-ringers were practicing and could clearly be heard while walking on the beach.  A lovely moment.

Clychau'r Ddewi (The Bells of Saint Davids)

A collection of recordings made during 2006.

Going Home

The Cricket's March Over The Salt Box

Echoes of BJ

A few guitar instrumentals - recorded in 2005.

Any colour you like - as long as its blue!

JBBlues

This is a collection of my own tunes plus some covers assembled for posterity (or posteriority - if there such a word?) at/around the Millenium.

Golden Blue

Heart is where home is (2)

The Durham Girl (Lesley's Theme)

This is a collection of my own tunes plus some covers assembled for posterity (or posteriority - if there such a word?) at/around the Millennium.

Played on a Dick Knight 'Arena' archtop guitar through a Fender CyberTwinn (ah where are they now!).

London I

Based on 1 Kings 19 and the story of Elijah in the wilderness after defeating the Prophets of Baal and being threatened with death by Queen Jezebel.

Played on a Terry Pack Parlour Guitar.  Recorded with twin AKG C1000s mics and a BOSS BR-800 recorded.

Still Small Voice Of Calm

Martin Luther, in his writing on the Magnificant,  has Mary say “I am only the workshop in which God operates” .

I recorded this originally around 4 years ago. This is a better recording played on my Fylde Falstaff.  Enjoy!

Pondering Heart - Song for Mary

This composition was stimulated by a visit to Lindisfarne (Holy Island)a few years ago.  Standing in the parish church of S. Mary the Virgin is a sculpture depicting the long and agonising journey of the Lindisfarne monks, carrying their beloved 6th Prior of the Abbey - Cuthbert, and the Lindisfarne Gospels, across Northumbria in search of a new home, after Viking raids (7th-8th century)eventually drove them from the island.

The piece was composed on and recorded with my Fylde Orsino guitar.

The Journey

A tune composed nearly 20 years ago while on holiday in West Cork and staying in the lovely village of Castletownsend. 

Mary Anne's certainly had the best scallops I've ever tasted.

The tune is written in DADGAD tuning and played on a Fylde Custom Falstaff.

The Castletownsend Waltz

Here's a piece composed in April 2020 during the 1st Covid-19 lockdown in the UK.  I nick-named it 'Lyra' which has stuck (my early recording was using an AKG Lyra microphone, so ...).  The piece is a series of harp-like arpeggios played on nylon strings with a romantic feel.

In Greek mythology, Lyra represents the lyre of Orpheus.  Orpheus's music was said to be so great that even inanimate objects such as trees, streams, and rocks could be charmed (I wish). Joining Jason and the Argonauts, his music was able to quell the voices of the dangerous Sirens, who sang tempting songs to the Argonauts.

At one point, Orpheus married Eurydice, a nymph. While fleeing from an attack by Aristaeus, she stepped on a snake that bit her, killing her. To reclaim her, Orpheus entered the Underworld, where the music from his lyre charmed Hades. Hades relented and let Orpheus bring Eurydice back, on the condition that he never once look back until outside. Unfortunately, near the very end, Orpheus faltered and looked back, causing Eurydice to be left in the Underworld forever. Orpheus spent the rest of his life strumming his lyre while wandering aimlessly through the land, rejecting all marriage offers from women.  Poor boy!

Lyra is played on my Lakewood M32CCP.

Lyra

This piece is dedicated to the real-life 'King in the North' - 'Harry Hotspur'.  

Sir Henry Percy KG (20 May 1364 – 21 July 1403), nicknamed 'Hotspur', was an English knight who fought in several campaigns against the Scots in the northern border and against the French during the Hundred Years' War. The nickname "Hotspur" was given to him by the Scots as a tribute to his speed in advance and readiness to attack. The heir to a leading noble family in northern England, Hotspur was one of the earliest and prime movers behind the deposition of King Richard II in favour of Henry Bolingbroke in 1399. He later fell out with the new regime and rebelled, being slain at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 at the height of his career.

This piece was played on my Lakewood M32CP.

Artwork by Carol Bleasdale

The Northumbrian

This piece is entitled 'a lamp to my feet and a light to my path' - taken from Psalm 119 verse 105.  A verse of great meaning to me during the 2020/21 Coronavirus pandemic.

Played on my Lakewood M14CCP
(tuning is D Bb F Eb G C (high to low))

Michael Gough

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