James Galway

ames Galway was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and began playing the flute at a young age. Since that time he has played in the best orchestras of the world, traveled the world giving solo flute performances, recorded dozens of albums of spectacular flute music, and spent great amounts of time teaching the flute to those who aspire to play even a little bit as well as he does. Oh, and he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001. Not bad for someone born into a working class Irish family!

James Galway's earlier autobiography, entitled "James Galway: An Autobiography" was first published in 1978. It is a fascinating insight into his life and the way he achieved success as a solo flute player.

In "The Man with the Golden Flute" internationally acclaimed and widely beloved flute player Sir James Galway looks back on his career that has spanned five decades and many genres of music.

Playing classical music on a flute seems a far cry from the rough life of a working class boy in Belfast. Well, his family loved music so he grew up surrounded by it. In Ireland everyone enjoyed music, playing and dancing to traditional Irish folk music. Still, in my daughter's high school it was pretty much all girls who played flute - the boys went for the more "masculine" type instruments, like trumpets, trombones, tubas, or percussion. So why did James Galway take up flute playing?

He started on the penny whistle, which was an instrument popular for all forms of Irish music, like jigs, reels, hornpipes and so forth. The important thing was to play it fast, and he became good at that. Actually he was only two years old when he started on the penny whistle, and he still plays it on occasion today!

• His flute playing is simply the best!

  When James Galway plays you just know it's him. He has a golden flute, and it really has a special tone. Flutes are wonderful instruments and many people can play them well, but James Galway's playing has made the flute a well-known and well-loved sound throughout the world.

• James Galway plays all kinds of music!

  I love music, it opens the heart allowing the emotions to flow. Through music we can be close to other people, their lives, their culture, their joy, their sorrow, their struggles, their victories. Music unites us as one human family when words so often divide us. James Galway plays the music of the heart, not just of his own Ireland but of the world. He even played on the soundtrack of the out of this world movie, "The Lord of the Rings"!

• James Galway has a great sense of humor!

  When asked his opinion about the use of the term "flautist" as opposed to "flutist" he answered, "I am a flute player not a flautist. I don't have a flaut and I've never flauted."

There is a great selection of video clips of James Galway. You can see how diverse is the kind of music he plays, how hard he works both performing in numerous locations and at the recording studio, as well as the many Master Class sessions in which he teaches flute technique. In some you also get a glimpse of his humor! But, wow, can the man play flute!

You might think James Galway is busy enough with all his performances, recordings, and even appearing on television shows! He's also married, to Jeanne Galway who also plays flute and they travel and play together. That would all seem to be enough of a contribution.

But no, James Galway is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and experience with everyone. He has commissioned many new works for the flute, allowing today's composers the chance to have their works performed publicly by the greatest flute player, James Galway himself. He has written books and articles about how to play the flute.

Most importantly, he teaches the flute. Together with his wife, he directs the International Flute School in Switzerland every summer.His master classes give aspiring flute players the opportunity to improve their techniques by learning from the master. Such classes are also available on video for all those aspiring flute players who don't get the chance to attend in person!

Having studied classical flute and spending years as an orchestral player, James Galway is a master of the greatest classical flute pieces written. Here are some of his wonderful recordings of great music.

Showing his love of his Irish roots, James Galway has often performed with the famous Irish band, The Chieftains, as well as Irish composer and performer Phil Coulter.

On this album James Galway joins forces with the amazing Cuban group, Tiempo Libre, to play music from the Claude Bolling Jazz Suites. Named after a street in Old Havana, this recording marks a new cultural intersection uniting classical, jazz and Cuban music.

Sir James Galway
Official website of Sir James Galway