DANNY BOY _ James Galway 

James Galway paved my entire life's journey. He was my inspiration since I was about 11, when I started playing the flute. I had his tape (haha) and listened endlessly. It got me through some terrible times in my life. I didn't have money for lessons and just mimicked his techniques down to every breath. 30 years later, I've retired as a professional musician. I came across this video today and thought... maybe my soul needs to play again. His music never gets any less beautiful.

If any of you have ever read his book about his life story, he tells about why he plays this song at every performance. It is his prayer of thanks back to God for giving him the gift of playing the flute. He says every single note is a prayer he sends straight to God. No wonder it is filled with such passion and emotion!

Heaven, for anyone who loves the flute, or loves music, and I think Galway never sounded more beautiful than this performance.

That jump to the high A near the end.....spectacular! Sir James has the most glorious tone. He's been my favorite flute player since I was a little kid, and my inspiration to keep playing today.

He hits the high notes so gently. Truly love his rich low tones.Isnt it beautiful.

Me: plays flute pretty ok James Galway: hold my head joint

辻󠄀井さんのリストピアノ協奏曲は、世界一美しいpowerfulな名演奏で、あまりの凄さに驚愕してしまいました。以来ファンです🌷次はChopinの舟歌が聴きたいと思っていたら、本当に素晴らしい舟歌を聴けて、嬉しいです。ありがとうございます😂今後のご活躍に心から陰ながら応援しております。まだまだお若い辻󠄀井さん、いつまでも聴いていたいです。頑張って下さい。ずっと✨✨✨

I am so moved by all the comments. My Dad listened to Galway over and over again as he lay dying. He had an eclectic taste in music and I was surprised that Galway's flute was what he needed to hear as his last musical selection on earth. Now, both listening to the music and reading the comments I understand.

People don’t realize how much skill that takes- I am amazing by the intonation quality the tone the timbre wow- he really knows what he is doing.

MY GRANDDAUGHTER SCARLETT IS 7 AND JUST STARTED PLAYING THE FLUTE AM SO PROUD OF YOU ❤️ SCARLETT YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR EVERYTHING AND I LOVE YOU 🥰 AND YOUR LITTLE SISTER ELEANOR

はじめて演奏を聞いて感動し涙流した演奏です、いつきいてもほんとに素敵です心が安らぎます、ありがとうございます

I think it's the most beautiful melody in the world. Excellent flute tone ! My heart is healed.

An absolute inspiration. I couldn't ever imagine being a flute player, hearing this and not aspiring to sound like James.

The standard bearer on his instrument. He plays many other styles of music with just as much control and prowess. He is a God gifted musician, and you can't teach that. Thank you Mr. Galway for sharing your art with us for all of these years. Godspeed and may you be blessed.

so beautifully played. how is it possible that 21 persons gave the thumbs down??? I'll give 21 thumbs up to erase those.

The greatest compliment I ever received was having one of the greatest orchestral directors in my country tell me that my tone and vibrato was as good as James Galway. I don't believe him of course, but it definitely has stuck with me.

this song has important meaning to me one of my favorite flute professors former mentor died of cancer and my flute choir played this piece for her honor the day of her burial its a very beautiful song...

The tremolo on that high note at the final crescendo, have played before and that is insanely hard. The whole song is so smooth, flowing and beautiful.

His flute sings from his very heart. Brought me to tears 💚

私はあなたの奏でる音色が大好きです。あなたが生み出す音楽は最高です。本当に素敵でいつも感動します。その中でもダニーボーイは本当に本当に大好きです。曲の意味とは違うかもしれませんが、私には何だか生き物のぬくもりを感じます。温かい優しさです。

Thanks to Mr Galway, I will continue playing my flute, in despite of my 80 years. ¡So incredible and celestial!

Danny boy is one of those tunes you play by feeling. I play Danny boy the same way. I don't hold a temple and expand the notes where it is needed giving emphasis. Well done James. This tune plays well on recorder. I slightly delay the notes leading to the high A and leave a little room for vibrato on the high A. So I give vibrato from C to high A. You know when you play it well you get a chill down your spine. Perhaps that's the time you are raising the spirits and they have come to listen. Danny boy is one of those magic tunes that does this. I played this where other musician played and when they sang my note was extended and I could here I skipped a beat but not really. The piano player also had to keep in sync with James. I'm not sure if anyone knows what I mean. I try not to be mechanical.

まだ若かった頃、教室の先生に教えていただき、どなたとも違う、その音色にすっかり魅了されておりました。荘厳な温かい低音　星が流れて消えゆくような澄んだ高音の ピアニシモ…。素人ながら、音楽の内側に生きていた頃の 憧れと尊敬を思い出しました。私がいくつになっても、寄り添って下さる大切な音色です。

ピアノの旋律と違い遠い日々が懐かしく感じられました。

This has really made me wanna cry...soul-touching melody, soul-touching performance of a musical instrument which can easily touch your heart, especially when you have someone in your heart, and that boy is actually your own ‘Danny boy’. Really miss him.

I was at this concert. Well the one he did at Kennedy Center. He was amazing. 15 minute standing ovation

「優しいff 」「遠くまで響くpp」

自然と涙が溢れます 自分もこんな演奏がしたいとしみじみ思います この楽譜は売られているんでしょうか？

James Galway is the best that ever graced the earth. He is my inspiration to press on and practice the flute every day!

He was my inspiration as I slowly grasped the concept of playing the flute and piccolo. They have given me half a lifetime of joy. Thank you Sir James.

いつもゴールウェイさんの音を目指して練習していますが、いつになったら出来ることやら。

The tale within the lyrics can boost our emotions to high heaven. In short, a loving person has to travel far away for a long time. The music tells the pain of a broken heart.

me: wow i sound great! james: galway: *plays* me: nevermind

Of course Sir James’ tone is extraordinary ~ I just noticed the exquisite ornamentation. Thank you for posting this ❤performance ~ just lovely.🎉🎉🎉

Stunning sound, so obvious even from a RU-vid video. No virtuosity to hide behind in this piece either. Just pure liquid gold is flowing out of his (golden!) flute. I'm speechless. Some musicians are just so far above the rest.

「私には管の材質を当てる事は出来ない」と言われた方ですよね。 胴鳴り音が快感です。

Played at every Irish funeral - music from heaven is this.

Lovely! Very inspiring to know that this song is his thank you to God for giving him the gift of playing the flute. Thank you, Mr. Galway!

Exquisitely heartbreaking.

私の連れともう20年以上前に、コンサートへ行きアンコールアンコール止まらず最後の最後ので、この曲でした、あまり地も美しくて感動で涙が止まりませんでした。その連れとも、縁がなく結婚を約束して20年、待ちましたが、結婚は、できませんでした。不思議な物ですね。20年も連れ沿いながら、一緒にならないとは。でも、こうしてゴールウェイさんのフルート演奏曲は、それぞれの場所で、あの時の感動を胸に思いながら聴いていることでしょうね。

This man is the epitome of a flute player. A stunning performance of a favourite air. Many thanks Sir James (and yes ... what is this "thumbs down" bit?).

こうゆう音に憧れます( * ´_` * )

I am from Brazil and I love this Irish music, it's absolutely sweet. Congrats to Sir James Galway. Kind regards from Recife-PE Brazil. :)

Beautiful harmony of piano and flute I love it

楽器は、演奏する人の心を映し出すものですね。 フルートが歌っています。 素晴らしくて、泣いてしまいました。

Parce que la vie offre de belles choses; Dany boy me rappelle mon adolescence. Habitant la campagne nous n'avions de cesse, mon Cousin et moi d'admirer les champs de blés que le vent caressait, faisant penser à une touffe de cheveux blonds. Le temps de la moisson était venu. C'est un moment magique où tout se dore et certaines extrémités des champs deviennent cuivrées. Alors à un moment précis de la journée, les rayons obliques transforment ce paysage en une contrée onirique reflétant le métal si précieux. Alors nous sortions un disque de James Galway jouant Danny Boy, et sur un vieux manche disque, nous passions les cinq minutes à regarder ce coucher de soleil lorsque le ciel se pare de rouge et de rose comme des bras vaporeux nous faisant signe de venir avec ses anges ! Le spectacle était unique. Ensuite les moissonneuses batteuses rentraient en action. Nous fermions la porte fenêtre et rangions notre 33 tours de Galway dans sa pochette jusqu'à....demain. Nous étions heureux et cette vue d'un simple champs de blé et la musique de Galway nous suffisaient, et nous rendaient heureux. C'était le clin d'oeil du créateur, cinq minutes d'un rêve qui recommençait chaque jour à la même heure pendant quelques semaines. Nous parcourions alors tous les champs avec notre manche disque et James à la flûte. Voilà c'était du bonheur, si simple....On n'avait pas besoin de montre pour savoir qu'il était temps de rentrer. Qu'importe demain on remettait ça

Brought tears to my eyes.

Absolutely gorgeous rendition of Danny Boy! James Galway’s tone is beautiful.

Linda performance. O arranjo é um dos mais lindo que já ouvi.

Great virtuoso preformance by James well done🙂

Am I the only one that can't go a day without listening to this exact recording about 14 times?? This is my goal in life. I wanna develop my own amazingly stunning style that captures people's hearts like James Galway.

One of my lifetime favorites.

James Galway has such a clear and rich tone! This is so beautiful :) -D.C.

Amazing, thank you Sir James.

Astounding tone. Perfect intonation. Wow!

The concluding notes were the most exquisite and pure sounds that can come from a human soul through an instrument! BRAVO! BRAVO!

Music is all about discovering your learning style and pressing on. Exactly!

I love this! So sensitively presented from his heart.

I'm not crying, It's just lacrimation...

Amazing performance, even though i hate this song, being called Danny is a curse haha. Inspiring to know that this man was brought up 5 minutes away from my home.

The most beautiful rendition I ever heard thank you fellow countryman Colin Maxwell Enniskillen

辛くなったらここに来るようにしています。 ゴールウェイの音を聴くだけで気持ちが浄化されます。

Absolutely gorgeous tone with a most beautiful and classic melody...thanks so much!

Wonderfully played!

Classical music is truly the most skill of them all even though it is the most gentle, the virbrato is so obvious and clear, the tone is gentle yet overpowering, i always listen to this when i wanna improve my sound

Congratulations for your amazing music, God blessed you.

This holds such happy tearful memories for me, when our eldest Son then aged 8, (he is now 37yrs) asked the Hotel in Kinsale, Ireland where we were having Dinner to play this on the Piano for his late Father and myself. James Galway a favourite of my late Husband. Many thanks for the memory revisited.

My grand mothers favourite song, sadly long passed, I can see her smiling now.

Him playing this song has always been my favourite flute piece since I first learned it 17 years ago. Some things never change!

Beautiful.

いつも聴きに来ています。自然と涙が溢れます。素晴らしい感動をありがとう。

A love song to Danny.

Who can resist this beautiful Irish song, especially when performed by James Galway?

This is sooo beautiful! Wonderful played!

우왕!!!!!!!!!!소리의 질이 완벽합니다,,

J'aime bcoup tous ses vidéos, je voudrais être comme Lui. Marie de l'île de la Réunion

Simply breathtaking

これ聞いてから笛吹くとめちゃ音良くなる

Such a sweet sound😊

何度聴いても、心が浄化され、目が潤んできます。またフルートを吹こうと思います。

Mille Grazie.... mi hai dato tanto.... Grazie!!!

Que hermoso se escucha una melodía interpretada por un maestro de la flauta

Brings tears to my eyes - and it gets better with every listening. Such tangible emotion and beauty.

straight from my heart...

just awesome

初めてJames Galwayさんの演奏聞いた時、自然と涙が出てきました。 それからファンです。

And behold, his platinum flute, which he plays on every time he plays this song.

Most wonderful!

Master class in flute playing enough said

Me, being a very young a growing flute player just realize he is playing this whole song using a vibrato..... I can't even, my god

Beautiful!

i don't know if i should cry because it's beautiful or cry because I'll probably never be that good. I'll probably do both

just brilliant.

あなたのように吹けるようになりたいです‼︎

Saw him once a Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. Looks like this clip is the RAH. What a talent. Great performance, great personality. His sound is unique and beautiful.

Quite simply the greatest flute player the world has ever seen . And possibly the best the world will ever know GSTK

Wonderful!

Linda musica. Sir James Galway

私が6歳のときにフルートの演奏会で初めて吹いた曲これです!! 懐かしいです笑

I'll bet he's played this song a few times in his life, probably can play it in his sleep. His version just feels so emotional somehow