James Galway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Galway
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Galway in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Born | 8 December 1939 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Genres | Classical, Celtic, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Flute player |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Labels | RCA Red Seal, Deutsche Grammophon/Universal Classics |
Sir James Galway (born on December 8, 1939) is a famous Irish flute player from Belfast. People often call him "The Man with the Golden Flute" because he plays so well. He started his career playing in orchestras, but then became a very successful solo flute player known all over the world. In 2005, he won a special award called the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
Contents
Early Life and First Flute Steps
James Galway was born in North Belfast, Northern Ireland. His father played the flute and worked at a shipyard. His mother was a pianist and worked in a mill. James grew up in a family where many people played music, especially the flute.
When he was nine years old, his uncle taught him how to play the flute. He quickly joined a fife and drum band. By the time he was eleven, James won three flute championships in Belfast on the same day! His first flute was an Irish flute, and later he got a different kind of flute called a Boehm system flute.
Learning and Becoming a Star
James Galway left school at 14 and worked for a piano repairer for two years. He then went on to study the flute at famous music schools in London and Paris. A very famous French flute player, Jean-Pierre Rampal, told James that he was already too good to need many lessons!
James spent 15 years playing in orchestras. He played with groups like the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1969 to 1975, he was the main flute player for the famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. But James wanted to play on his own, so he decided to leave the orchestra and start a solo career. This was a big surprise to the orchestra's conductor!
As a solo artist, James Galway became incredibly popular. He has sold over 30 million recordings of his music. He plays both classical music and new pieces written just for him. He even played on the soundtracks for The Lord of the Rings movies! In 1987, his album with the Irish band The Chieftains, called James Galway and The Chieftains in Ireland, was very popular.
In 2008, he was added to the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, which is a special honor for musicians. He plays flutes made by Nagahara and Muramatsu, and he even has his own line of flutes called "Galway Spirit Flutes."
Helping Young Musicians
Sir James Galway cares a lot about helping young people learn music. He is the president of Flutewise, a charity that supports young flute players around the world. In 2003, he worked with other famous musicians to ask the British government to improve music education in schools. He is also an ambassador for the National Foundation for Youth Music, another charity in the UK.
In 2013, he launched "First Flute," which is an online series of lessons for anyone who wants to start learning the flute.
Awards and Personal Life
James Galway has received many important awards. In 1977, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2001, he was knighted by the Queen for his services to music, becoming "Sir James Galway." He was the first wind player ever to receive this honor. In 2014, he received the Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sir James Galway lives in Switzerland with his third wife, Jeanne Galway, who is also a flute player. They often perform together and teach masterclasses.
He is a Christian and often prays before his concerts. He wears a cross pendant as a reminder of his beliefs.
In 1977, James Galway was in an accident in Switzerland where a motorcycle hit him. He broke his arm and both legs and had to stay in the hospital for four months. He also has an eye condition called nystagmus and supports a charity for people with this condition. In 2009, he fell at home and broke his arm and wrist.
James Galway sees himself as Irish. He has spoken about his childhood in Northern Ireland and how he wishes for "Ireland to be Ireland."
His younger brother, George, was also a musician, playing jazz clarinet, flute, and saxophone. James's nephew, Martin Galway, is known for creating music for computer games in the 1980s.
Selected Recordings
Sir James Galway has made many recordings throughout his career. Here are a few examples:
- Prokofiev & Franck: Sonatas for Flute and Piano (1975)
- Man with the Golden Flute (1976)
- Mozart: The Two Flute Concertos (1977)
- Annie's Song and Other Galway Favorites (1979)
- In the Pink (with Henry Mancini, 1984)
- In Ireland (with The Chieftains, 1987)
- The Man with the Golden Flute – The Complete RCA Collection (a large collection of his recordings, 2014)
Images for kids
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Galway and his wife Jeanne at a concert in Lucerne in 2007.
See also
In Spanish: James Galway para niños
