José Ángel Hevia Velasco, known professionally as Hevia (born 1967 in Villaviciosa, Asturias), is a Spaniard bagpiper – specifically, an Asturian gaita player.[1] He commonly performs with his sister, Maria José, on drums. In 1992 he was awarded first prize for solo bagpipes at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany.[2]
Possibly his most recognisable composition is the 1999 piece Busindre Reel, from his first album Tierra de Nadie. Hevia is known for helping invent a special brand of MIDI electronic bagpipes, which he is often seen playing live, his suffering of asthma limiting his capacity to play the gaita for a whole concert. The instrument was developed with Alberto Arias (pupil and computer programmer) and the electronic technician Miguel Dopico.[2]
Two of Hevia's tracks, La Línea Trazada and El Garrotin (single release), appeared on the cross-platform video game Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense. His music also features in Walt Disney World at Epcot, just before the nightly IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show.
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