Galway, James
Galway, James
Galway, James, famous Irish flutist; b. Belfast, Dec. 8, 1939. He took up the tin whistle at 7 and began playing the flute in a neighborhood flute band when he was 9. He then went to London on a scholarship, where he studied with John Francis at the Royal Coll. of Music (1956–59) and with Geoffrey Gilbert at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (1959–60); a 2nd Scholarship allowed him to proceed to Paris to continue his training with Gaston Crunelle at the Cons, and privately with Marcel Moyse and Jean-Pierre Rampal. He was a flutist in the orchs. of the Sadler’s Wells Opera (1961–66) and the Royal Opera, Covent Garden (1965), in London; after playing in the London Sym. Orch. (1966–67) and the Royal Phil, of London (1967–69), he was a member of the Berlin Phil. (1969–75). Thereafter he pursued a brilliant career as a flute virtuoso, making highly successful tours all over the world. In later years, he also took up conducting. He publ. James Galway: An Autobiography (London, 1978) and Flute (London, 1982). In 1977 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and in 1987 an Officier des Arts et Lettres of France. Galway’s repertory ranges over a vast expanse of music, including not only the classics and contemporary scores, but traditional Irish music and popular fare.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire