Tony McManus is well known around the world as the most accomplished practitioner of fingerstyle Celtic guitar playing, but when friend and mandolinist Mike Marshall challenged him to learn Bach’s E major Prelude for solo violin on the guitar, he was forced to look at his instrument in a new light and think in a completely different style. McManus not only took Marshall up on his challenge, but also proceeded to learn more classical guitar pieces, creating a unique collection of performances that he has collected on his new album Mysterious Boundaries. It took McManus seven months to learn the Bach Chaconne in D minor, and with that under his belt, he turned to the challenging “Les Barricades Mysteriouses” by Francois Couperin from which the album derives its name. Mysterious Boundaries demonstrates just how much of a virtuoso McManus really is and simultaneously raises the bar in the world of fingerstyle guitar.

“McManus has shown that traditional Celtic music can form the basis for an original and masterful solo-guitar style that transcends genre.” —Acoustic Guitar

“His command of acoustic guitar technique is flawless, with a chesty, rounded, gorgeous tone and a knack for well-marked rhythms and singing phrases.”
—All Music Guide