Acclaimed by the New York Times for the “power and grittiness” of his music, Dave Flynn is a composer of international stature. His music draws on minimalism, jazz, Irish traditional music and a kaleidoscopic range of other influences, and has been critically praised in the Boston Globe, Washington Post and The Times (UK).
His music has been performed internationally, including at MoMA New York, the Gewandhaus Leipzig, KKL Luzern, Cadogan Hall London, and Dvořák Hall Prague, and by ensembles including the New Juilliard Ensemble, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Crash Ensemble, Smith Quartet, New Zealand String Quartet and ConTempo Quartet. His concerto Aontacht, performed by Martin Hayes with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, was described by the Journal of Music as “nothing short of brilliant.”
Flynn’s music has been featured and broadcast on the BBC, RTÉ, Radio New Zealand, and WNYC‘s New Sounds with John Schaefer, among others. Commissions include those from RTÉ, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Irish Chamber Orchestra and West Cork Music. Flynn is founder and director of the Irish Memory Orchestra, described by The Irish Times as “a formidable collective.”
Long Bio
Acclaimed by the New York Times for the “power and grittiness” of his music, Dave Flynn is a composer of international stature. Drawing on minimalism, jazz, Irish traditional music and a kaleidoscopic range of other influences, his compositions have developed a distinctive post-minimalist language.
His chamber works have received international critical acclaim in publications including the Boston Globe, Washington Post, The Times (UK) and The Irish Times. His second string quartet, The Cranning, won the 2004 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Composers’ Prize and has since been performed by the New Juilliard Ensemble, Vanbrugh Quartet, Smith Quartet, New Zealand String Quartet and ConTempo Quartet. The ConTempo Quartet’s recording appears on the album Irish Minimalism, produced by Grammy-winner Judith Sherman. Neil Fisher of The Times wrote that the work “incorporated traditional Irish music without Hollywood pastiche.”
Tar Éis an Caoineadh was described as one of the “real revelations” (Boston Globe) of violinist Irina Muresanu’s album Four Strings Around the World (Sono Luminus). Chimurenga, written for the Dublin Guitar Quartet, was described as music that “shimmered with lilting, African-flavored melodies” (Washington Post). The Keening, his third string quartet, was praised for “evoking the ancient via relatively modern string techniques — with no hint of ‘Celtic twilight’ crossover style” (Irish Times).
Flynn’s orchestral writing ranges from post-minimalist string orchestra works to his three symphonies. His fiddle concerto Aontacht, with soloist Martin Hayes, was described by the Journal of Music as “nothing short of brilliant.” The National Concert Hall premiere of Aontacht with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra was highlighted by conductor David Brophy as a career milestone. Music for the Departed has been performed across Ireland by Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Ahead of its US premiere at New York’s Irish Arts Centre it was described as a “magnificent new work” by the Irish Examiner (New York). His three symphonies culminate in The Vision Symphony, conceived to enable vision-impaired musicians to perform with an orchestra. “Boundary breaking in a new way.” — Journal of Music.
Flynn is founder and director of the Irish Memory Orchestra — “a formidable collective of musicians” (The Irish Times). The IMO has premiered many works including The Clare Concerto, an hour-long work combining symphony orchestra with ensembles of uilleann pipes, concertinas and harps, alongside Bronze Age horns and electric guitars.
Flynn’s guitar works, published by Mel Bay, are described by leading classical guitarist Laura Snowden as “fresh, honest, beautiful music.” His arrangements of Philip Glass’s music for the Dublin Guitar Quartet were described by Glass himself as “really quite beautiful,” and released on his label Orange Mountain Music.
Flynn holds a doctorate from TU Dublin and a Masters from the Guildhall School of Music. He has been selected to represent Ireland at the International Rostrum of Composers, and he was appointed the first Farmleigh Composer-in-Residence at Ireland’s state guest house.
His music has been performed internationally at venues including MoMA New York, the Gewandhaus Leipzig, KKL Luzern, Cadogan Hall (London) and Dvořák Hall (Prague), by ensembles including the New Juilliard Ensemble, Crash Ensemble, Smith Quartet, New Zealand String Quartet, ConTempo Quartet, Irish Chamber Orchestra and Prague Chamber Orchestra.
Flynn’s music has been featured and broadcast on the BBC, RTÉ, Radio New Zealand, and WNYC‘s New Sounds with John Schaefer, where he has had a feature length interview.
Commissions have come from RTÉ, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Irish Chamber Orchestra and West Cork Music, among others.
Flynn marks his 50th year in 2027 and continues to develop new projects and collaborations internationally.
