Dr. Dave Flynn - Academic CV
Dr. Dave Flynn is one of the leading composers and researchers involved in the interaction between traditional Irish music and contemporary composition. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Irish Memory Orchestra, a uniquely Irish orchestra which mixes some of Ireland’s finest classical and traditional musicians to create a distinctive new 21st Century sound. He is also Artistic Director of Ceol Meabhair –The Irish Memory Orchestra International Festival of Memorised Music.
Dr. Flynn's compositions embrace many styles and instrumentations including orchestral, chamber and electro-acoustic works. They have been performed and commissioned by internationally acclaimed artists including the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Prague Chamber Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, New Juilliard Ensemble, Smith Quartet, Vanbrugh Quartet, Engegard Quartet, RTÉ Con Tempo Quartet, Rolf Hind, John Feeley, Liz Carroll, Mairtín Ó'Connor and Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill.
His numerous awards include the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Composers’ Award and the IMRO Composition Award. His music has been published by Mel Bay, Reed Music and Frisbee Publications and broadcast internationally on WNYC Radio, RTÉ and the BBC.
He was awarded a PhD in 2011 for his dissertation Traditional Irish Music: A Path to New Music. He studied for his PhD at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin under the supervision of Dr. Jane O'Leary with the aid of an ABBEST Scholarship. Prior to this Dr. Flynn gained a Master’s Degree in Composition from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a BMus (Composition) from the DIT. He was previously Guest Lecturer in Composition at the DIT where he had the responsibility of supervising final year undergraduate composition students.
His work and studies have been funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, Culture Ireland, The Guildhall Trust, The Michael Collins Memorial Foundation, an ABBEST Scholarship and IMRO. He has given workshops, papers and master-classes throughout Ireland and in New York, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Japan, Russia and Romania.
In July 2014 he was invited by the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins to perform at Áras an Uachataráin with his cross-genre ensemble D.F.F. In January 2012 he represented Ireland, joining then Minister for the Arts Jimmy Deenihan TD as part of the Culture Ireland delegation to the APAP conference in New York. In November 2010 then Minister for Arts Mary Hanafin TD presented him with a special award at the National Concert Hall in recognition of the world premiere of his fiddle concerto Aontacht. Earlier the same year he was invited to perform for a room full of dignitaries including former US President Bill Clinton and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Dr. Flynn is also an award-winning guitarist. In this capacity he has premiered music by composers including Michael Gordon, Kevin Volans, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt and Eric Sweeney. His solo guitar recordings Contemporary Traditional Irish Guitar and Winter Variations have received considerable acclaim.
Academic Qualifications
2006-2010 - DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin – Ph.D.
2003-2004 - Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London – M.Mus. (Composition)
1999-2003 - DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin – B.Mus. (Composition)
1995-1997 – Senior College Ballyfermot, Diploma in Popular Music Performance
Research Interests
Contemporary composition, ethno-musicology, traditional Irish music, Congolese music, Zimbabwean music, Malian music, Nigerian music, Balkan traditional music, Eastern European traditional music, Scandanavian traditional music, baroque music practices, minimalism, improvisation, poly-metric music, modality, micro-tonality, aural learning, classical guitar music, American composers, Irish composers, the music of Jean Sibelius, folk music composition, popular music, electro-acoustic music, alternative tuning systems, early music, nationalism in music.
Recent Education and Outreach Work
July/August 2016 - Hired as specialist tutor for Irish Music/Composition field research project of American student Sasha Avanov. Temple University, Philadelphia.
July 2015 - Burren Summer School of Music - Devised and implemented summer school for Music Generation Clare
Jan-July 2015 Clare Memory Orchestra Apprenticeship Scheme - Devised and implemented education and outreach initiative which attracted musicians from Ireland, UK, Europe and North America to Clare for auditions, masterclasses, rehearsals and performance.
Jan-Oct 2014 Clare Memory Orchestra Apprenticeship and Singers’ Schemes. Devised and implemented education and outreach initiative which attracted musicians from Ireland, UK, Europe and North America to Clare for auditions, masterclasses, rehearsals and performance.
Jan-Nov 2013 Clare Memory Orchestra Apprenticeship Scheme. Devised and implemented education and outreach initiative which attracted musicians from all over Ireland to Clare for auditions, masterclasses, rehearsals and World Premiere of the Clare Concerto.
Feb-June 2012 Guest lecturer in Composition at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.
Sept 2011 Workshops and lecture at University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, Estonia
April 2011: Inishowen Guitar Festival, workshop with transition year music students in Schoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal, Ireland
April 2011: Workshop in Scoil Náisiúnta Olibhear Pluinceid Rann Na Feirste, Annagary, Co. Donegal, Ireland
March 2011: Galway Music Residency, workshop for music students from Colaiste na Coiribe and Colaiste Iognaid, Ireland.
Dec 2010: Dublin Institute of Technology, Conservatory of Music and Drama. Composition workshop with undergraduate and post-graduate students
July 2009: Juilliard School of Music and Drama, New York. Workshop on Irish music techniques with undergraduates involved in the New Juilliard Ensemble.
March 2009: Gheorghe Dima Academy of Music, Cluj, Romania. Workshop on Irish contemporary and traditional music with academy students
Publications
Peer Reviewed
Articles and other writings
Why are we forgetting the Tune Composers? Article published in Quinn, Toner (ed.) The Journal of Music in Ireland. April 2015.
The Uilleann Pipes in Contemporary Concert Music. Serialised in five parts in McKeon, Gay (ed.) An Piobaire Vol. 8. Na Píobairí Uilleann Teoranta, Dublin, 2012.
Traditional Irish Music: A Path To New Music, Ph.D Dissertation. Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, December 2010.
Looking for the Irish Bartók, Article published in Quinn, Toner (ed.) The Journal of Music in Ireland, July/August 2005 edition.
Young Composer’s Collective, Article published in Quinn, Toner (ed.) The Journal of Music in Ireland, March/April 2004 edition.
Compositions
Published in Print
Aontacht – A Concerto for a Traditional Irish Musician and Orchestra. Frisbee Publications, Spiddal, Ireland, 2011, Catalogue FP002.
Premiered by Martin Hayes (fiddle) and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, cond. David Brophy. November 2010, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Music for the Departed. Frisbee Publications, Spiddal, Ireland, 2011, Catalogue FP003.
Premiered by Martin Hayes (fiddle), Brona Cahill (violin), Dennis Cahill (guitar) and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra cond. David Brophy. November 2010, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Dave Flynn - Complete Works for Solo Guitar Vol 1. Frisbee Publications, Spiddal, Ireland, 2011. Catalogue FP001.
Toccata for Obama – Quirk No 6(b), Composition for Alto Saxophone & Guitar. Reed Music, Fitzroy, Australia, 2010. Catalogue RM758
Premiered by Gerard McChrystal (sax) and Craig Ogden (gtr). October 2010. Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
Four Études for Five Finger in Postlewate, Charles (ed.) A Contemporary Anthology of Solo Guitar Music. Mel Bay Publications, Pacific MO, USA, 2009. Catalogue No. 21290. Premiered by Dave Flynn. June 2006, Cabinteely Park House, Dublin.
Peer Reviewed in Live Performance
Calmly Awaiting the End - 2016 (Uilleann pipes and String Quartet)
Commissioned by Galway City Council for the Éamon Ceannt Memorial Festival. Premiered by Mick O'Brien and the Con Tempo Quartet, Town Hall Theatre, Galway, June 2016.
Mná Brian Ború – 2014 (Vocalists and chamber memory orchestra)
Commissioned by Clare County Council and premiered by Dave Flynn and the Clare Memory Orchestra, conductor Bjorn Bantock, glór theatre, Ennis, Co. Clare. Oct 2014.
Joy - 2014 (Amplified Ensemble)
Commissioned by the Crash Ensemble with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland. Premiered by Dave Flynn, Niwel Tsumbu and the Crash Ensemble, conductor Alan Pierson, Cork Opera House. February 2014.
The Clare Concerto – 2013 (Large memory orchestra)
Commissioned by Clare County Council and premiered by Dave Flynn and the Clare Memory Orchestra, conductor Bjorn Bantock, glór theatre, Ennis, Co. Clare. Nov 2013.
Quirk No.7 'Slides, Cuts, Rolls & Crans' 2011 fl cl+bcl
Commissioned by Concorde and premiered by them in the Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, November 2011.
'The Valley of the Lunatics' for re-tuned fiddles and digital loop technology (2009) – 15’.
Premiered by Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh in August 2011 at the Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry.
'Le Cheile is in Aonar' (2010) for traditional music ensemble (2 fiddles, three tin whistles, two Irish flutes, uilleann pipes) – 25’. Premiered by Harry Bradley, Aoife O'Brien, Mick O'Brien and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh in August 2011 at the Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry.
‘The Man from Maghera Rambles Through Africa’ for orchestra (2010) - 6’.
Premiered by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra cond. David Brophy. November 2010, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
'The Forest of Ornaments' (2009) for traditional Irish flautist and pre-recorded sound collage or stand alone sound collage – 11’.
Live version premiered by Harry Bradley in August 2011 at the Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry.
'The Longest Reel' (2009) for solo Irish fiddle – 8’.
Premiered by Aoife O'Brien in August 2011 at the Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry.
'Tar Éis an Caoineadh' for solo violin (2007) – 10’.
Premiered by Ioana Petcu-Colan. May 2008. Printing House, Trinity College Dublin.
'String Quartet No.3 - The Keening (2007) – 20’
Premiered by Con Tempo Quartet. December 2007. Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
‘String Quartet No.2 – The Cranning (2004/2005) – 15’
Premiered by the Smith Quartet. November 2005, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, UK. Awarded 1st Prize in 2004 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Composers Competition.
‘Electric Guichair’, (2004), electro-acoustic sound collage. 7’.
Premiered at the Unitarian Church, Dublin. December 2008.
Quirk No.4 ‘Between the Jigs and the Reels’ (2004) vln, pf. 8’.
Premiered by Eugen Cibisescu-Duran (vn), Iulia Cibisescu-Duran (pf). April 2006. Gheorghe Dima Music Academy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
‘Echoes of Bamako’ for string orchestra (2003) – 5’.
Premiered by the Prague Chamber Orchestra. March 2009, Dvorak Hall, Prague, Czech Republic.
Recordings
Dave Flynn – Orchestral Works. RTÉ Recording to be released in 2017.
Features Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, the Clare Memory Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra and conductor David Brophy performing Aontacht, Music for the Departed & An Irish Farrago.
Dave Flynn – Stories from the Old World – String Quartet Music. To be released in 2017 by Raelach Records
Produced by Grammy-award winner Judith Sherman. Features the RTÉ Con Tempo Quartet, CMO String Quartet, Mick O’Brien and Brendan Begley performing String Quartet No.2 ‘The Cranning’, String Quartet No.3 ‘The Keening’ and Stories from the Old World.
Dublin Guitar Quartet - Contemporary Irish. Released in 2016.
Features Chimurenga performed by the Dublin Guitar Quartet.
Dave Flynn – Winter Variations. Frisbee Records, Ballyvaughan, Ireland, 2014. Catalogue FRCD 005
D.F.F. – Pouric Songs. Frisbee Records, Ballyvaughan, Ireland, 2014. Catalogue FRCD 004. Features a song cycle composed for cross-genre chamber ensemble. Music: Dave Flynn, Lyrics: Pádraic Ó Beirn.
New Music: New Ireland 1. Contemporary Music Centre, 2009. Features The Forest of Ornaments performed by Harry Bradley.
Dave Flynn - Contemporary Traditional Irish Guitar, Compact Disc. Frisbee Records, Spiddal, Ireland, 2009. Catalogue FR CD 002.
Contemporary Music from Ireland Vol. 7. Contemporary Music Centre, CMC CD07, 2008. Features String Quartet No.2 ‘The Cranning’ Mov. I Slip. Performed by Con Tempo Quartet.
Dave Flynn - Draíocht, Compact Disc. Frisbee Records, Spiddal, Ireland, 2006. Catalogue FR CD 001.
Awards, Honours and Grants
2016 Eamon Ceannt Memorial Commission Competition - Winner
2015 Allianz Business to Arts Award - Winner with ESB/Electric Ireland - Best Overall Portfolio
2014 Allianz Business to Arts Award Nomination – Highly Commended for Clare Concerto Project with the Clare Memory Orchestra and Clare County Council.
2013 Clare County Council Per Cent For Arts Scheme Award to create and curate a major new work ‘The Clare Concerto’ to be developed through an outreach scheme whereby the Clare Memory Orchestra enlisted and trained 50 ‘apprentice’ musicians to join the main CMO members to premiere the piece in glór in November 2013. This apprenticeship scheme was repeated in 2014.
Arts Council Culture Connects Award to present an Irish/Estonian collaboration in Ireland and Estonia as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.
2012 Selected by Culture Ireland to represent Ireland at the APAP Conference, New York and attend honorary reception for Irish artists at the New York Irish Consulate.
Touring and Dissemination Award from the Arts Council of Ireland for the Tune Maker’s Tour.
2011 Music Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland
2010 Special Award in commemoration of the World Premiere of ‘Aontacht’
presented by Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport at the
National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland.
2010 Music Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland
2008 Deis Award for the Traditional Arts from Arts Council of Ireland
2006 ABBEST Scholarship to undertake research PhD at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.
2005 Music Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland
2004 Composer’s Award - Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival
Bliss Trust composers’ bursary.
2003 Bursaries from the Guildhall Trust, Arts Council of Ireland and Michael Collins Memorial
Foundation towards Master’s Degree studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
2002 IMRO Senior Composition Award - Feis Ceoil, Dublin
Research Projects
Project title
Composition called "The Clare Concerto"
Summary
Concerto for Large Orchestra mixing Irish traditional and classical musicians.
Premiered by Dave Flynn & the Clare Memory Orchestra and 50 apprentices selected from an education and outreach apprenticeship scheme. Conductor Bjorn Bantock. Glór Theatre, Ennis, Nov 2013
Funding Agency
Clare County Council
Type of Project
Composition/Education and Outreach
Date from
January 2013
Date to
November 2013
Person Months
11
Project title
Composition called "Aontacht"
Summary
Concerto. For Irish fiddle and orchestra. Premiered by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, cond. David Brophy at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, 24th November 2010.
Funding Agency
RTÉ
Type of Project
Composition
Date from
January 2007
Date to
January 2008
Person Months
12
Project title
Composition Project called "Ceol Nua"
Summary
Composition of 5 new works through collaborative research with Irish traditional musicians Harry Bradley, Mick O’Brien, SIobhán Peoples and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
Funding Agency
Arts Council of Ireland Deis Award
Type of Project
Composition/Instrumental Research
Date from
March 2009
Date to
March 2011
Person Months
24
Major Commissions and Performances
2014 October Commissioned by Clare County Council to create and curate a major new work Mná Brian Ború to be developed through The CMO Singers’ Scheme whereby Dave Flynn and the Clare Memory Orchestra auditioned, enlisted and trained several singers to join the main CMO members to premiere the piece in St. Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe, October 2014 in an event commemorating the Brian Boru Millenium.
August Commissioned by RTÉ to curate, co-organise and perform in a concert by the Clare Memory Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Attendance over 1000.
July Commissioned by the ESB to curate, co-organise and perform in a concert by the Clare Memory Orchestra at ESB Power Station, Turlough Hill, Glendalough to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the station. Event was hugely successful and received national headlines including front cover of the Irish Times.
April Arts Council of Ireland Sponsored Tour of Ireland with cross-genre ensemble D.F.F.
January Directed, curated and performed in a concert by the Clare Memory Orchestra at Moscow Catholic Cathedral, Russia. Attendance over 1000.
2013 Commissioned by the Crash Ensemble to create a 20 minute work for amplified ensemble to be premiered in Cork Opera House in February 2014.
June Founded, co-organised and curated the 1st Ceol Meabhair Festival of Memorised Music, Clare.
Year round solo guitar performances at festivals and tours in France, Germany and Japan.
March Performed electric guitar with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in the Irish Premiere of De Staat by Louise Andriessen. New Music Dublin Festival, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
2012 Commission from Concorde with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland to create a new ensemble work to be premiered in February 2013.
Oct – Coached the Vanbrugh Quartet in advance of attending the Russian Premiere of String Quartet No.2 – The Cranning at the Irish-Russian Chamber Music Festival, Kremlin Armoury Chamber, Moscow.
Sept/Oct Organised, curated and performed in The Tune Makers Irish Tour with Tommy Peoples, Mairtín O’Connor, Liz Carroll, Peadar Ó Ríada and Charlie Lennon
May/June Performed in and curated the Celtic Music/Classical Guitar tour of Germany.
April Coached the Vanbrugh Quartet in advance of attending the Dublin Premiere of String Quartet No.2 – The Cranning at New Sound Worlds Event, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
February Curated and performed in CMC Salon Concert of New Irish Music for Violin and Guitar with Aoife Ní Bhriain (violin) and composers Eric Sweeney, Jerome de Bromhead, Ian Wilson, Alyson Barber and self.
2011 September Irish tour by The Irish Chamber Orchestra with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill featuring newly commissioned work ‘An Irish Farrago – from O’Carolan to Ó Ríada’ and ‘Music for the Departed’
August Guest Composer-in-Residence with Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry, including portrait concert of compositions performed by Harry Bradley, Aoífe Ní Bhríain, Caoímhín Ó Raghallaigh and Mick O’Brien
Performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland including world premiere of new solo guitar work ‘An Irish Raga’
March Guest Composer-in-Residence with Galway Music Residency including portrait concert of compositions performed by ConTempo Quartet, Mick O’Brien and Breanndán Begley
2010
2009
Recent Broadcasting and Media Work
WNYC New Sounds, New York. Complete edition of the show dedicated to Dave Flynn’s music, includes interview with John Schaefer.
Irish Chamber Orchestra promotional web video - Interviewed with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill
RTÉ Lyric FM, The Lyric Concert – Interview with Peter Browne as interval feature for broadcast of November 2010 concert in the National Concert Hall.
Galway Independent – Interview with Arts Correspondent in advance of Galway Music Residency.
RTÉ Lyric FM, Nova – Interview with Bernard Clarke in advance of Galway Music Residency.
RTÉ Radio 1, Morning Ireland. Interview with Colman O’Sullivan in advance of premiere of Aontacht by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The Irish Times – Interview with Arminta Wallace in advance of premiere of Aontacht by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Contemporary Music Centre – Video interview and podcast with Jonathan Grimes in advance of premiere of Aontacht by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Radio Kalmar, Sweden – Live performance broadcast in advance of the Secret Festival.
Press Quotes and Endorsements
'Dave Flynn occupies a unique position in the world of music: his work reflects an intimate and respectful knowledge of the Irish folk tradition along with deep insight and skill in the world of modern classical composition.'
- Martin Hayes (Internationally renowned Irish musician)
‘’Dave Flynn is rapidly establishing himself as a central figure in Irish composition. His fascination with Irish traditional music brings a new perspective into this arena of composition and raises a fresh debate on a century-old interactive process between classical music traditions and indigenous orally transmitted music.’’
– Dr. Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Director, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance
"Irish music is this Dublin composer’s passion and main inspiration, and at times he has the quartet’s two violinists digging into their instruments with the kind of power and grittiness you hear from Celtic fiddlers at their most raucous."
- Alan Kozinn, (The NewYork Times)
“If folksperimentation was a genre, this immersive blend of classical composition and Irish jig arrangement would fall right in its place. Perhaps most impressive of all are Flynn’s orchestral and song-writing skills; he pens seductive and warming tracks which are performed with a level of class unparalleled in a lot of folk/classical crossovers”.
– Andrew Latimer (Three Weeks Daily, Edinburgh Review)
'the piece (The Keening) is notable for evoking the ancient via relatively modern string techniques that remain new sounding. Flynn has successfully appropriated something from Irish traditional music without any hint of "Celtic twilight" crossover style.'
-Michael Dungan (The Irish Times)
‘What struck me about Flynn was his self-confidence and sure-footedness. He had something to say in his music and was damned well going to say it. The audience loved it and so did the players—the Smith Quartet’
– Barbara Slaughter, (WSWS Arts Review)
Dr. Flynn's compositions embrace many styles and instrumentations including orchestral, chamber and electro-acoustic works. They have been performed and commissioned by internationally acclaimed artists including the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Prague Chamber Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, New Juilliard Ensemble, Smith Quartet, Vanbrugh Quartet, Engegard Quartet, RTÉ Con Tempo Quartet, Rolf Hind, John Feeley, Liz Carroll, Mairtín Ó'Connor and Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill.
His numerous awards include the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Composers’ Award and the IMRO Composition Award. His music has been published by Mel Bay, Reed Music and Frisbee Publications and broadcast internationally on WNYC Radio, RTÉ and the BBC.
He was awarded a PhD in 2011 for his dissertation Traditional Irish Music: A Path to New Music. He studied for his PhD at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin under the supervision of Dr. Jane O'Leary with the aid of an ABBEST Scholarship. Prior to this Dr. Flynn gained a Master’s Degree in Composition from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a BMus (Composition) from the DIT. He was previously Guest Lecturer in Composition at the DIT where he had the responsibility of supervising final year undergraduate composition students.
His work and studies have been funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, Culture Ireland, The Guildhall Trust, The Michael Collins Memorial Foundation, an ABBEST Scholarship and IMRO. He has given workshops, papers and master-classes throughout Ireland and in New York, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Japan, Russia and Romania.
In July 2014 he was invited by the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins to perform at Áras an Uachataráin with his cross-genre ensemble D.F.F. In January 2012 he represented Ireland, joining then Minister for the Arts Jimmy Deenihan TD as part of the Culture Ireland delegation to the APAP conference in New York. In November 2010 then Minister for Arts Mary Hanafin TD presented him with a special award at the National Concert Hall in recognition of the world premiere of his fiddle concerto Aontacht. Earlier the same year he was invited to perform for a room full of dignitaries including former US President Bill Clinton and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Dr. Flynn is also an award-winning guitarist. In this capacity he has premiered music by composers including Michael Gordon, Kevin Volans, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt and Eric Sweeney. His solo guitar recordings Contemporary Traditional Irish Guitar and Winter Variations have received considerable acclaim.
Academic Qualifications
2006-2010 - DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin – Ph.D.
2003-2004 - Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London – M.Mus. (Composition)
1999-2003 - DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin – B.Mus. (Composition)
1995-1997 – Senior College Ballyfermot, Diploma in Popular Music Performance
Research Interests
Contemporary composition, ethno-musicology, traditional Irish music, Congolese music, Zimbabwean music, Malian music, Nigerian music, Balkan traditional music, Eastern European traditional music, Scandanavian traditional music, baroque music practices, minimalism, improvisation, poly-metric music, modality, micro-tonality, aural learning, classical guitar music, American composers, Irish composers, the music of Jean Sibelius, folk music composition, popular music, electro-acoustic music, alternative tuning systems, early music, nationalism in music.
Recent Education and Outreach Work
July/August 2016 - Hired as specialist tutor for Irish Music/Composition field research project of American student Sasha Avanov. Temple University, Philadelphia.
July 2015 - Burren Summer School of Music - Devised and implemented summer school for Music Generation Clare
Jan-July 2015 Clare Memory Orchestra Apprenticeship Scheme - Devised and implemented education and outreach initiative which attracted musicians from Ireland, UK, Europe and North America to Clare for auditions, masterclasses, rehearsals and performance.
Jan-Oct 2014 Clare Memory Orchestra Apprenticeship and Singers’ Schemes. Devised and implemented education and outreach initiative which attracted musicians from Ireland, UK, Europe and North America to Clare for auditions, masterclasses, rehearsals and performance.
Jan-Nov 2013 Clare Memory Orchestra Apprenticeship Scheme. Devised and implemented education and outreach initiative which attracted musicians from all over Ireland to Clare for auditions, masterclasses, rehearsals and World Premiere of the Clare Concerto.
Feb-June 2012 Guest lecturer in Composition at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.
Sept 2011 Workshops and lecture at University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, Estonia
April 2011: Inishowen Guitar Festival, workshop with transition year music students in Schoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Donegal, Ireland
April 2011: Workshop in Scoil Náisiúnta Olibhear Pluinceid Rann Na Feirste, Annagary, Co. Donegal, Ireland
March 2011: Galway Music Residency, workshop for music students from Colaiste na Coiribe and Colaiste Iognaid, Ireland.
Dec 2010: Dublin Institute of Technology, Conservatory of Music and Drama. Composition workshop with undergraduate and post-graduate students
July 2009: Juilliard School of Music and Drama, New York. Workshop on Irish music techniques with undergraduates involved in the New Juilliard Ensemble.
March 2009: Gheorghe Dima Academy of Music, Cluj, Romania. Workshop on Irish contemporary and traditional music with academy students
Publications
Peer Reviewed
Articles and other writings
Why are we forgetting the Tune Composers? Article published in Quinn, Toner (ed.) The Journal of Music in Ireland. April 2015.
The Uilleann Pipes in Contemporary Concert Music. Serialised in five parts in McKeon, Gay (ed.) An Piobaire Vol. 8. Na Píobairí Uilleann Teoranta, Dublin, 2012.
Traditional Irish Music: A Path To New Music, Ph.D Dissertation. Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, December 2010.
Looking for the Irish Bartók, Article published in Quinn, Toner (ed.) The Journal of Music in Ireland, July/August 2005 edition.
Young Composer’s Collective, Article published in Quinn, Toner (ed.) The Journal of Music in Ireland, March/April 2004 edition.
Compositions
Published in Print
Aontacht – A Concerto for a Traditional Irish Musician and Orchestra. Frisbee Publications, Spiddal, Ireland, 2011, Catalogue FP002.
Premiered by Martin Hayes (fiddle) and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, cond. David Brophy. November 2010, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Music for the Departed. Frisbee Publications, Spiddal, Ireland, 2011, Catalogue FP003.
Premiered by Martin Hayes (fiddle), Brona Cahill (violin), Dennis Cahill (guitar) and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra cond. David Brophy. November 2010, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Dave Flynn - Complete Works for Solo Guitar Vol 1. Frisbee Publications, Spiddal, Ireland, 2011. Catalogue FP001.
Toccata for Obama – Quirk No 6(b), Composition for Alto Saxophone & Guitar. Reed Music, Fitzroy, Australia, 2010. Catalogue RM758
Premiered by Gerard McChrystal (sax) and Craig Ogden (gtr). October 2010. Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
Four Études for Five Finger in Postlewate, Charles (ed.) A Contemporary Anthology of Solo Guitar Music. Mel Bay Publications, Pacific MO, USA, 2009. Catalogue No. 21290. Premiered by Dave Flynn. June 2006, Cabinteely Park House, Dublin.
Peer Reviewed in Live Performance
Calmly Awaiting the End - 2016 (Uilleann pipes and String Quartet)
Commissioned by Galway City Council for the Éamon Ceannt Memorial Festival. Premiered by Mick O'Brien and the Con Tempo Quartet, Town Hall Theatre, Galway, June 2016.
Mná Brian Ború – 2014 (Vocalists and chamber memory orchestra)
Commissioned by Clare County Council and premiered by Dave Flynn and the Clare Memory Orchestra, conductor Bjorn Bantock, glór theatre, Ennis, Co. Clare. Oct 2014.
Joy - 2014 (Amplified Ensemble)
Commissioned by the Crash Ensemble with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland. Premiered by Dave Flynn, Niwel Tsumbu and the Crash Ensemble, conductor Alan Pierson, Cork Opera House. February 2014.
The Clare Concerto – 2013 (Large memory orchestra)
Commissioned by Clare County Council and premiered by Dave Flynn and the Clare Memory Orchestra, conductor Bjorn Bantock, glór theatre, Ennis, Co. Clare. Nov 2013.
Quirk No.7 'Slides, Cuts, Rolls & Crans' 2011 fl cl+bcl
Commissioned by Concorde and premiered by them in the Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, November 2011.
'The Valley of the Lunatics' for re-tuned fiddles and digital loop technology (2009) – 15’.
Premiered by Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh in August 2011 at the Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry.
'Le Cheile is in Aonar' (2010) for traditional music ensemble (2 fiddles, three tin whistles, two Irish flutes, uilleann pipes) – 25’. Premiered by Harry Bradley, Aoife O'Brien, Mick O'Brien and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh in August 2011 at the Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry.
‘The Man from Maghera Rambles Through Africa’ for orchestra (2010) - 6’.
Premiered by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra cond. David Brophy. November 2010, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
'The Forest of Ornaments' (2009) for traditional Irish flautist and pre-recorded sound collage or stand alone sound collage – 11’.
Live version premiered by Harry Bradley in August 2011 at the Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry.
'The Longest Reel' (2009) for solo Irish fiddle – 8’.
Premiered by Aoife O'Brien in August 2011 at the Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry.
'Tar Éis an Caoineadh' for solo violin (2007) – 10’.
Premiered by Ioana Petcu-Colan. May 2008. Printing House, Trinity College Dublin.
'String Quartet No.3 - The Keening (2007) – 20’
Premiered by Con Tempo Quartet. December 2007. Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
‘String Quartet No.2 – The Cranning (2004/2005) – 15’
Premiered by the Smith Quartet. November 2005, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, UK. Awarded 1st Prize in 2004 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Composers Competition.
‘Electric Guichair’, (2004), electro-acoustic sound collage. 7’.
Premiered at the Unitarian Church, Dublin. December 2008.
Quirk No.4 ‘Between the Jigs and the Reels’ (2004) vln, pf. 8’.
Premiered by Eugen Cibisescu-Duran (vn), Iulia Cibisescu-Duran (pf). April 2006. Gheorghe Dima Music Academy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
‘Echoes of Bamako’ for string orchestra (2003) – 5’.
Premiered by the Prague Chamber Orchestra. March 2009, Dvorak Hall, Prague, Czech Republic.
Recordings
Dave Flynn – Orchestral Works. RTÉ Recording to be released in 2017.
Features Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, the Clare Memory Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra and conductor David Brophy performing Aontacht, Music for the Departed & An Irish Farrago.
Dave Flynn – Stories from the Old World – String Quartet Music. To be released in 2017 by Raelach Records
Produced by Grammy-award winner Judith Sherman. Features the RTÉ Con Tempo Quartet, CMO String Quartet, Mick O’Brien and Brendan Begley performing String Quartet No.2 ‘The Cranning’, String Quartet No.3 ‘The Keening’ and Stories from the Old World.
Dublin Guitar Quartet - Contemporary Irish. Released in 2016.
Features Chimurenga performed by the Dublin Guitar Quartet.
Dave Flynn – Winter Variations. Frisbee Records, Ballyvaughan, Ireland, 2014. Catalogue FRCD 005
D.F.F. – Pouric Songs. Frisbee Records, Ballyvaughan, Ireland, 2014. Catalogue FRCD 004. Features a song cycle composed for cross-genre chamber ensemble. Music: Dave Flynn, Lyrics: Pádraic Ó Beirn.
New Music: New Ireland 1. Contemporary Music Centre, 2009. Features The Forest of Ornaments performed by Harry Bradley.
Dave Flynn - Contemporary Traditional Irish Guitar, Compact Disc. Frisbee Records, Spiddal, Ireland, 2009. Catalogue FR CD 002.
Contemporary Music from Ireland Vol. 7. Contemporary Music Centre, CMC CD07, 2008. Features String Quartet No.2 ‘The Cranning’ Mov. I Slip. Performed by Con Tempo Quartet.
Dave Flynn - Draíocht, Compact Disc. Frisbee Records, Spiddal, Ireland, 2006. Catalogue FR CD 001.
Awards, Honours and Grants
2016 Eamon Ceannt Memorial Commission Competition - Winner
2015 Allianz Business to Arts Award - Winner with ESB/Electric Ireland - Best Overall Portfolio
2014 Allianz Business to Arts Award Nomination – Highly Commended for Clare Concerto Project with the Clare Memory Orchestra and Clare County Council.
2013 Clare County Council Per Cent For Arts Scheme Award to create and curate a major new work ‘The Clare Concerto’ to be developed through an outreach scheme whereby the Clare Memory Orchestra enlisted and trained 50 ‘apprentice’ musicians to join the main CMO members to premiere the piece in glór in November 2013. This apprenticeship scheme was repeated in 2014.
Arts Council Culture Connects Award to present an Irish/Estonian collaboration in Ireland and Estonia as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.
2012 Selected by Culture Ireland to represent Ireland at the APAP Conference, New York and attend honorary reception for Irish artists at the New York Irish Consulate.
Touring and Dissemination Award from the Arts Council of Ireland for the Tune Maker’s Tour.
2011 Music Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland
2010 Special Award in commemoration of the World Premiere of ‘Aontacht’
presented by Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport at the
National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland.
2010 Music Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland
2008 Deis Award for the Traditional Arts from Arts Council of Ireland
2006 ABBEST Scholarship to undertake research PhD at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.
2005 Music Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland
2004 Composer’s Award - Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival
Bliss Trust composers’ bursary.
2003 Bursaries from the Guildhall Trust, Arts Council of Ireland and Michael Collins Memorial
Foundation towards Master’s Degree studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
2002 IMRO Senior Composition Award - Feis Ceoil, Dublin
Research Projects
Project title
Composition called "The Clare Concerto"
Summary
Concerto for Large Orchestra mixing Irish traditional and classical musicians.
Premiered by Dave Flynn & the Clare Memory Orchestra and 50 apprentices selected from an education and outreach apprenticeship scheme. Conductor Bjorn Bantock. Glór Theatre, Ennis, Nov 2013
Funding Agency
Clare County Council
Type of Project
Composition/Education and Outreach
Date from
January 2013
Date to
November 2013
Person Months
11
Project title
Composition called "Aontacht"
Summary
Concerto. For Irish fiddle and orchestra. Premiered by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, cond. David Brophy at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, 24th November 2010.
Funding Agency
RTÉ
Type of Project
Composition
Date from
January 2007
Date to
January 2008
Person Months
12
Project title
Composition Project called "Ceol Nua"
Summary
Composition of 5 new works through collaborative research with Irish traditional musicians Harry Bradley, Mick O’Brien, SIobhán Peoples and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
Funding Agency
Arts Council of Ireland Deis Award
Type of Project
Composition/Instrumental Research
Date from
March 2009
Date to
March 2011
Person Months
24
Major Commissions and Performances
2014 October Commissioned by Clare County Council to create and curate a major new work Mná Brian Ború to be developed through The CMO Singers’ Scheme whereby Dave Flynn and the Clare Memory Orchestra auditioned, enlisted and trained several singers to join the main CMO members to premiere the piece in St. Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe, October 2014 in an event commemorating the Brian Boru Millenium.
August Commissioned by RTÉ to curate, co-organise and perform in a concert by the Clare Memory Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Attendance over 1000.
July Commissioned by the ESB to curate, co-organise and perform in a concert by the Clare Memory Orchestra at ESB Power Station, Turlough Hill, Glendalough to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the station. Event was hugely successful and received national headlines including front cover of the Irish Times.
April Arts Council of Ireland Sponsored Tour of Ireland with cross-genre ensemble D.F.F.
January Directed, curated and performed in a concert by the Clare Memory Orchestra at Moscow Catholic Cathedral, Russia. Attendance over 1000.
2013 Commissioned by the Crash Ensemble to create a 20 minute work for amplified ensemble to be premiered in Cork Opera House in February 2014.
June Founded, co-organised and curated the 1st Ceol Meabhair Festival of Memorised Music, Clare.
Year round solo guitar performances at festivals and tours in France, Germany and Japan.
March Performed electric guitar with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in the Irish Premiere of De Staat by Louise Andriessen. New Music Dublin Festival, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
2012 Commission from Concorde with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland to create a new ensemble work to be premiered in February 2013.
Oct – Coached the Vanbrugh Quartet in advance of attending the Russian Premiere of String Quartet No.2 – The Cranning at the Irish-Russian Chamber Music Festival, Kremlin Armoury Chamber, Moscow.
Sept/Oct Organised, curated and performed in The Tune Makers Irish Tour with Tommy Peoples, Mairtín O’Connor, Liz Carroll, Peadar Ó Ríada and Charlie Lennon
May/June Performed in and curated the Celtic Music/Classical Guitar tour of Germany.
April Coached the Vanbrugh Quartet in advance of attending the Dublin Premiere of String Quartet No.2 – The Cranning at New Sound Worlds Event, National Concert Hall, Dublin.
February Curated and performed in CMC Salon Concert of New Irish Music for Violin and Guitar with Aoife Ní Bhriain (violin) and composers Eric Sweeney, Jerome de Bromhead, Ian Wilson, Alyson Barber and self.
2011 September Irish tour by The Irish Chamber Orchestra with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill featuring newly commissioned work ‘An Irish Farrago – from O’Carolan to Ó Ríada’ and ‘Music for the Departed’
August Guest Composer-in-Residence with Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry, including portrait concert of compositions performed by Harry Bradley, Aoífe Ní Bhríain, Caoímhín Ó Raghallaigh and Mick O’Brien
Performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland including world premiere of new solo guitar work ‘An Irish Raga’
March Guest Composer-in-Residence with Galway Music Residency including portrait concert of compositions performed by ConTempo Quartet, Mick O’Brien and Breanndán Begley
2010
- November World Premiere of ‘Aontacht’ and other works commissioned by RTÉ and performed by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at the National Concert Hall, Dublin
- April US Premiere of ‘Music for the Departed’ at the Irish Arts Center, New York
2009
- July US Premiere of String Quartet No.2 'The Cranning' by New Juilliard Ensemble at Summergarden, Museum of Modern Art, New York. Attendance 1000 people.
- March World Premiere of 'Echoes of Bamako' by the Prague Chamber Orchestra at Prague Premiers Festival, Dvorak Hall, Prague, Czech Republic
- December Music for Galway and Contemporary Music Centre commissions 'String Quartet No.3', premiered by Con Tempo Quartet in Dublin and Galway
- September RTÉ Lyric FM commissions ‘Taibhreamh Ó’Ríada’, premiered by Líadan at the 2007 EBU Folk Festival, Cork
- August West Cork Music commissions 'Music for the Departed', premiered by Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill and Ioana Petcu-Colan at Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry
- Mel Bay Publications commissions 'Four Etudes for Five Fingers' for publication in the book 'Contemporary Anthology of Solo Guitar Music for Five Fingers of the Right Hand' (Published 2009)
- Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival commissions String Quartet No.2 'The Cranning', premiered by the Smith Quartet.
Recent Broadcasting and Media Work
WNYC New Sounds, New York. Complete edition of the show dedicated to Dave Flynn’s music, includes interview with John Schaefer.
Irish Chamber Orchestra promotional web video - Interviewed with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill
RTÉ Lyric FM, The Lyric Concert – Interview with Peter Browne as interval feature for broadcast of November 2010 concert in the National Concert Hall.
Galway Independent – Interview with Arts Correspondent in advance of Galway Music Residency.
RTÉ Lyric FM, Nova – Interview with Bernard Clarke in advance of Galway Music Residency.
RTÉ Radio 1, Morning Ireland. Interview with Colman O’Sullivan in advance of premiere of Aontacht by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The Irish Times – Interview with Arminta Wallace in advance of premiere of Aontacht by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Contemporary Music Centre – Video interview and podcast with Jonathan Grimes in advance of premiere of Aontacht by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Radio Kalmar, Sweden – Live performance broadcast in advance of the Secret Festival.
Press Quotes and Endorsements
'Dave Flynn occupies a unique position in the world of music: his work reflects an intimate and respectful knowledge of the Irish folk tradition along with deep insight and skill in the world of modern classical composition.'
- Martin Hayes (Internationally renowned Irish musician)
‘’Dave Flynn is rapidly establishing himself as a central figure in Irish composition. His fascination with Irish traditional music brings a new perspective into this arena of composition and raises a fresh debate on a century-old interactive process between classical music traditions and indigenous orally transmitted music.’’
– Dr. Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Director, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance
"Irish music is this Dublin composer’s passion and main inspiration, and at times he has the quartet’s two violinists digging into their instruments with the kind of power and grittiness you hear from Celtic fiddlers at their most raucous."
- Alan Kozinn, (The NewYork Times)
“If folksperimentation was a genre, this immersive blend of classical composition and Irish jig arrangement would fall right in its place. Perhaps most impressive of all are Flynn’s orchestral and song-writing skills; he pens seductive and warming tracks which are performed with a level of class unparalleled in a lot of folk/classical crossovers”.
– Andrew Latimer (Three Weeks Daily, Edinburgh Review)
'the piece (The Keening) is notable for evoking the ancient via relatively modern string techniques that remain new sounding. Flynn has successfully appropriated something from Irish traditional music without any hint of "Celtic twilight" crossover style.'
-Michael Dungan (The Irish Times)
‘What struck me about Flynn was his self-confidence and sure-footedness. He had something to say in his music and was damned well going to say it. The audience loved it and so did the players—the Smith Quartet’
– Barbara Slaughter, (WSWS Arts Review)