Davy Spillane
Encyclopedia
Davy Spillane is a songwriter and a player of uilleann pipes
and low whistle
.
early years
Davy was born in Dublin in 1959 . At the age of 12 he started playing the uilleann pipes
. His father encouraged him and inspired him with his love of all music genres. For the next three years he played at sessions and met many prominent Irish musicians At the age of 16 he played in Ireland, Britain and Europe. He starred as a gypsy in Joe Comerford's film " Traveller. In 1978 he began to write his own music.
, along with Christy Moore
and Donal Lunny
in 1981. Although each member had a strong pedigree of Irish folk music
, the band played mostly original compositions, sometimes with a political edge and a folk-rock sound. Their final album The Storm
(1985) was purely instrumental and had several slower pieces written by Davy. He then made the surprise move of joining up with American musicians Béla Fleck
, Albert Lee
and others to record a "Davy Spillane" debut album of his new compositions and bluegrass and original blues, Atlantic Bridge
. There was a promotional touring band which also recorded Out of the Air
in 1988, essentially a live version of Atlantic Bridge.
Davy then gathered together a new set of musicians, including Rory Gallagher
and Kevin Glackin to record Shadow Hunter, an album of various rock and folk styles.
This was followed by Pipedreams in 1991.
in 1995. Davy was a special guest soloist in Riverdance.
's film Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights
and in 1995 reached a larger audience with the film Rob Roy
. Other compositions and guesting he has done includes Kate Bush
's Sensual World (1989), Mike Oldfield
's Voyager (1996), Bryan Adams
' MTV Unplugged
, Van Morrison
and Elvis Costello
. Other films include Eat the Peach
and The Disappearance of Finbar
. Paul Winter's album Journey With The Sun (2002)
Davy was awarded a Grammy and also nominated for second one.
Davy served his apprenticeship with pipe maker Dan Dowd and Johnny Burke and now makes all his own instruments. In 2000 he recorded his only album of traditional tunes Forgotten Days, together with Kevin Glackin.
Uilleann pipes
The uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...
and low whistle
Low whistle
The low whistle, or concert whistle, is a variation of the traditional tin whistle/pennywhistle, distinguished by its lower pitch and larger size. It is most closely associated with the performances of modern Irish musicians and groups such as Riverdance and Davy Spillane, and is increasingly...
.
early years
Davy was born in Dublin in 1959 . At the age of 12 he started playing the uilleann pipes
Uilleann pipes
The uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...
. His father encouraged him and inspired him with his love of all music genres. For the next three years he played at sessions and met many prominent Irish musicians At the age of 16 he played in Ireland, Britain and Europe. He starred as a gypsy in Joe Comerford's film " Traveller. In 1978 he began to write his own music.
Moving Hearts and solo albums
He was a founder member of Moving HeartsMoving Hearts
Moving Hearts is an Irish folk-rock band formed in 1981. They followed in the footsteps of Horslips in combining Irish traditional music with rock and roll, and also added elements of jazz to their sound.-Career:...
, along with Christy Moore
Christy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
and Donal Lunny
Dónal Lunny
Dónal Lunny is an Irish folk musician. Lunny has been at the forefront of the evolution of traditional Irish music for more than thirty-five years and has participated within the renaissance of traditional Irish music in that time period...
in 1981. Although each member had a strong pedigree of Irish folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, the band played mostly original compositions, sometimes with a political edge and a folk-rock sound. Their final album The Storm
The Storm (Moving Hearts)
While the original line-up of Moving Hearts had Christy Moore on vocals and later versions had the likes of Mick Hanly and Flo McSweeney singing, "The Storm" was purely instrumental...
(1985) was purely instrumental and had several slower pieces written by Davy. He then made the surprise move of joining up with American musicians Béla Fleck
Béla Fleck
Béla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
, Albert Lee
Albert Lee
Albert William Lee, born 21 December 1943 in Leominster, Herefordshire, England, is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked both in the studio and on tour with some of the most famous musicians which stretch through a very wide of genres...
and others to record a "Davy Spillane" debut album of his new compositions and bluegrass and original blues, Atlantic Bridge
Atlantic Bridge (album)
Atlantic Bridge was the Irish uilleann pipes player Davy Spillane's first solo album after the break-up of Moving Hearts. Together with producer P.J. Curtis he assembled a stellar cast of musicians from both sides of the Atlantic including, Albert Lee, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Christy Moore and...
. There was a promotional touring band which also recorded Out of the Air
Out of the Air
Out of the Air is an album by the Irish uilleann pipes player Davy Spillane, that was originally released on Tara Music in 1988. Allmusic awards this album with 4 stars....
in 1988, essentially a live version of Atlantic Bridge.
Davy then gathered together a new set of musicians, including Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
and Kevin Glackin to record Shadow Hunter, an album of various rock and folk styles.
This was followed by Pipedreams in 1991.
Collaborations
Davy played as special guest soloist in orchestral work in 1992 called "The Seville Suite", describing events in 1601 in Irish-Spanish history. , Whelan then worked for Davy Spillane and Andy Irvine on the music album EastWind in 1994, that inspired RiverdanceRiverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
in 1995. Davy was a special guest soloist in Riverdance.
Film Music
In 1992 Spillane composed music for Peter KosminskyPeter Kosminsky
Peter Kosminsky is a British writer, director and producer. He has directed Hollywood movies such as White Oleander and television films like Warriors, The Government Inspector and The Promise.- Biography :...
's film Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights was a 1992 feature film adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights directed by Peter Kosminsky....
and in 1995 reached a larger audience with the film Rob Roy
Rob Roy (film)
Rob Roy is a 1995 historical drama film directed by Michael Caton-Jones. Liam Neeson stars as Robert Roy MacGregor, an 18th century Scottish historical figure who battles with feudal landowners in the Scottish Highlands. Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Eric Stoltz, and Jason Flemyng also star...
. Other compositions and guesting he has done includes Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
's Sensual World (1989), Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
's Voyager (1996), Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
' MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
, Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
and Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
. Other films include Eat the Peach
Eat the Peach
Eat the Peach is a 1986 British-Irish comedy film, directed by Peter Ormrod. The title derives from the T.S.Eliot poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. It was written by Peter Ormrod with John Kelleher...
and The Disappearance of Finbar
The Disappearance of Finbar
The Disappearance of Finbar is a 1996 Irish-Swedish mystery drama film directed by Sue Clayton and starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers in an early role. The film also features the first appearance of Colin Farrell, in an uncredited role.-Plot:...
. Paul Winter's album Journey With The Sun (2002)
Davy was awarded a Grammy and also nominated for second one.
Davy served his apprenticeship with pipe maker Dan Dowd and Johnny Burke and now makes all his own instruments. In 2000 he recorded his only album of traditional tunes Forgotten Days, together with Kevin Glackin.
Solo Albums
- Atlantic BridgeAtlantic Bridge (album)Atlantic Bridge was the Irish uilleann pipes player Davy Spillane's first solo album after the break-up of Moving Hearts. Together with producer P.J. Curtis he assembled a stellar cast of musicians from both sides of the Atlantic including, Albert Lee, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Christy Moore and...
(1987) - Shadow Hunter (1990)
- Pipedreams (1991)
- EastWindEastWindThe EastWind album, from Andy Irvine & Davy Spillane, serves as a musical meeting of Celtic Music and World Music. It was widely regarded as revolutionary at the time of recording.-Track listing:# "Chetvorno Horo" 3:48# "The Bear's Rock" 3:31...
(1992) - A Place Among The Stones (1994)
The title track, 'A Place Among The Stones' features on solo albums by both Moya BrennanMoya BrennanMoya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin , also known as Máire Brennan , is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist who began performing professionally in 1970, when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music"...
and Davy Spillane. The song is most commonly credited Máire Brennan featuring Davy Spillane and appears on Moya (Máire) Brennan's Misty Eyed AdventuresMisty Eyed AdventuresMisty Eyed Adventures is a music album by Irish musician Máire Brennan, now known as Moya Brennan. This was the second solo outing for her and features many of her family and friends on the recording...
album. The only difference between both tracks is that Spillane's has an extra second of silence. - The Sea Of Dreams (1998)
- Forgotten Days (2001)
- Deep Blue Sea (2004)
Soundtracks
- Lamb (1986)
- Eat The Peach (1986)
- The Ballad of the Sad Café (1991) - Flute
- Wuthering Heights (1992)
- Rob Roy (1995) - Uilleann Pipes & Low Whistle
- Michael Collins (1996) - Uilleann Pipes & Low Whistle
- The Disappearance of Finbar (1996)
- Dancing at Lughnasa (1998) - Uilleann Pipes & Low Whistle
- Xenosaga (2002) - Uilleann Pipes & Low Whistle