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Solas Music: Steve Gwyn Davies (Recorder and Whistle-player, and Composer)
I started Solas Music in the 1990's as a way of promoting myself as a recorder and whistle soloist. Solas became a record label in 2000 when I acquired the rights to my own CD 'The Highest Apple (An Ubhal as Airde)'.
Musically I started in my teens as a composer also playing violin and alto sax; I went on to study music at York University (composition, jazz, world music, etc!). Moving to the Isle of Skye I immersed my heart in Highland Bagpipe and Gaelic song (starting and working on a project which eventually became 'Orain an Eilein', the first major published collection of Skye Gaelic song: published by Taigh na Teud in 2001), and all of this, together with some saxophone techniques, became absorbed into my style of playing recorders and whistles.
I am always trying to explain that the recorder to me is definitely not that 'children's instrument' (or even that Early Music instrument) that we're all used to - and possbily had inflicted on us! (actually the tin whistle is a much better learning instrument for kids) - but a wind instrument with the potential passion and expressive power of the uillean pipes, the jazz saxophone or the solo concert violin. What I am always reaching for with the recorder is the expression of ecstasy.
However, the only way to find out is to click on the album and listen to the soundclips.....
Incidentally, you can also hear my playing on several videos: 'My Scotland 1& 2' by Hamish MacInnes (Glencoe Productions) on which I'm playing some Gaelic and Shetland tunes, and: 'Hebridean Splendour' by Angus Morrison (Falcon Videos, Ness, Isle of Lewis), which makes very good use of tracks from The Highest Apple.
What am I doing now? When will there be more CDs?
Three years ago I started composing again, and this has taken up a lot of my musical energy. But I'm playing again now (soprano sax as well as recorders and whistles) and working at all sorts of music for new CDs. I won't attempt to explain why such a long time has gone past without new recordings - believe me, that would be so boring!
CD Projects on Solas:
THE ROSE OF ALL THE WORLD: A 'big' romantic album using the whole range of recorders from the mellow bass and tenor instruments right up to sopranino. With much more varied orchestration, and the recorder 'coming out' as an expressive instrument capable of handling a wide range of emotions and of contemporary and popular musical styles - mainly jazz and popular, but also traditional (including Celtic) and possibly classical; some 'standards', and material from a variety of countries. Not just to prove a point though - just to play music that I love. It will all be recognisable as the same player!
THE WOODS OF THE WEST (Na Coilltean a Siar): Gaelic and Scottish tunes with the arrangements featuring more accordion than orchestra. The accordion is the instrument that most perfectly complements my style of playing.
HIRAETH (Longing): A CD of Welsh hymns and other sacred music played on the recorder with choral and other accompaniment.
THE HEADLANDS: A CD of dance music - mainly from the Celtic and Scandinavian countries, but some other countries as well (whistles and recorders equally). A lot of accordion - and exciting rhythms including jazz and Latin. After living up here for so long and being so immersed in (what I suppose must be) northern moods and feelings, and long winters, I started to long increasingly for the sunshine - not just literally, but also the warmth and vitality of music from southern countries, especially Latin, Latin-American, North African and Arabic music. I have to say to me there is just Music - no boundaries.
Also music I'm composing in other forms - some quite serious 'popular songs', sacred music for choir and solo singers, some songs and recorder music for children, tunes for tin whistle band and steel band, and an extended meditative piece for recorder and string orchestra.
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