Wikipedia Trail: From Davey to Cullden

Shaun Davey: 2011
Wikimedia Commons

Shaun Davey  was born in 1949 in Bellfast. He is a composer who specializes in large scale concerts. He has four major works The Brendan Voyage, The Pilgrim, Granuaile, and The Relief of Derry, all of which are based on Irish History. One of his other works May We Never Have to Say Goodbye was played at the opening ceremony for the special Olympics world summer games in 2003. He helped compose the soundtrack for the movie The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It should also be The Deer's Cry, was played during the Inauguration of the Irish president. Davy is important in the musical world because he was the first composer to incorporate native instruments, like the bagpipes into his compositions and orchestra.
noted that his one of his works

One of Davey's most popular compositions, the Relief of Derry Symphony, was based of a real historic event, the Siege of Derry. This siege was the first major event in the Willimate War.  The Siege began in April 1689 and ended July 30 of the same year. Derry was targeted because of its clear allegiance against the, then current, king of England. By the time the siege was over many of the people inside the walls were starving to death. Some were hallucinating, a scene that is captured in Davey's 4th movement, as a woman sings about the sights from the eyes of the soldiers. By the time the siege broke over 4,000 people had died within the walls.

The Williamite War as a conflict between the Jacobites and the Willimates, or those that supported a Catholic King (James II) or a Protestant King ( William of Orange, and current King) for the monarchy of England, and thus Scotland and Ireland. This war is what finally confirmed British Protestant rule over Ireland. The war lasted from March 12, 1689 to October 3, 1691.

Some of the Jacoites from the Williamite War participated in the Battle of Cullden. This was the final battle of the Jacobite rising in 1745 and took place April 16, 1746. The battle itself took less then and hour, but it ended with over 1,500 Scotts dead and only 50 deaths for the British. The rising itself was  a religious and political civil war between Britain and Scotland, Ireland had some support for Scotland but was severely hindered by the previous war. As a result of the war, much of the highlanders were wiped out and their culture was almost annihilated, such as the banning of traditional highland dress. The Jacobite uprising was the final uprising in the highlands. The defeat at Cullden solidified British rule over Scotland.

To be honest the only reason I started this search is because The Relief of Derry is one of my favorite "songs" to listen to. It is a truly beautiful piece. I felt like informing others about it and the history behind it. There are four movements, but I have only posted the first here. I encourage you to go and listen to the entire composition, it is truly moving.