From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shaun Davey (1948– ) is an Irish composer.
Early
years
Shaun Davey was born in Belfast in 1948. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in the
history of Art in 1971. He then took a master's degree at the Courtauld Institute of Art
in London. In the late 1970s,
he made his first recording, "Davey and Morris," with Donal
Lunny and others. He worked as a composer of advertising
jingles, including "The Pride of the Herd" for the National Dairy
Council.
Symphonic
folk music
Davey's reputation is built on four large-scale concert works
based on Irish history, all using uilleann pipes and
folk tunes.
- "The
Brendan Voyage" (1983) depicts the journey taken by explorer Tim Severin, in 1978,
from Ireland across the Atlantic
to Newfoundland in a leather currach. Severin's journey was a recreation of
the one allegedly made by Saint
Brendan. The style is similar to that of film composer John Williams. The work uses the
traditional uilleann pipes to represent the small currach, while the rest of the
orchestra represents the
conditions, islands and wildlife encountered by the boat.
- "The Pilgrim" (1984) is set in a vaguely medieval world where
the Irish, the Bretons and
Scots explore the seas of
western Europe. It exists in
two versions: the 1983 recording made at the Lorient
Interceltic Festival, and an expanded version recorded mostly
in the 1990s.
- " Granuaile" (1985) tells the story of
Grace O'Malley, an Irish pirate queen in the 16th
century. It has more songs than the previous works and features the
voice of Rita
Connolly (who married Davey soon after). Donal Lunny again
contributed as a session musician. It is a homophonic piece of
music set in the re mode.It was also played by a chamber
orchestra
- "The Relief of Derry Symphony" (1990) has a more obvious
symphonic structure. It is based around the 17th century Siege of Derry,
showing the Protestants inside and the Catholics outside the
beleaguered city. Whereas the previous three works involved uilleann
piper Liam
O'Flynn, this one uses a Scottish bagpipe band, who enter the
auditorium from behind the audience.
- "May We Never Have To Say Goodbye, released by the Tara Music label, is a collaboration
between Shaun Davey, the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and a
number of world-renowned artists. The album takes its name from the
anthem especially composed for the Opening Ceremony of the Special
Olympics World Summer Games in Croke Park, June 2003. Performed by
Rita Connolly, Ronan Tynan and no less than six Dublin choirs. It
is presented along with a range of spectacular music from Shaun
Davey's unique and exhilarating suite, featuring traditional
soloists, singers, choir, pipe band, and orchestra, together with
spectacular percussion. This release also includes previously
unrecorded pieces from 'The Pilgrim', 'Waking Ned' (Fill to me the
Parting Glass), ‘Music of the Spheres’, a magical piece from the
Royal Shakespeare Company production of 'Pericles'.
More Recently Shaun along with Rita Connolly and Dingle based
musicians, Seamus Begley, Eilís Kennedy, Lawrence Courtney, Eoin
Ó’Beaglaoí, Daithí Ó’Sé and Jim Murray to perform a collection of
new songs in Irish: music by Shaun, with lyrics based on the poems
of the late Caoimhín O Cinnéide. The name of the band is Beal
Tuinne and the album was recorded live at St. James' Church Dingle
Ireland.
Davey as
film composer
Davey had a talent that was obviously suitable for films. His
most famous film score
has been Waking
Ned (1998), with contributions from Nollaig Casey and
Arty McGlynn. His
other scores include Twelfth Night, The Tailor of
Panama and The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe. Television work includes the theme to
Ballykissangel. In 2000, Richard
Nelson's play "James Joyce's The Dead" (a dramatisation of a short
story) was performed on Broadway, with incidental music by Shaun
Davey.
For many people his greatest work remains "Granuaile", partly
because of the abundance of melodies, and partly because of Rita Connolly's
soaring soprano voice. Liam
O'Flynn's solo album "Out To An Other Side" (1993) had
several tracks arranged by Davey.
References
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