Donald Shaw (musician)

Donald Shaw
Background information
Birth name	Donald Shaw
Origin	Taynuilt, Argyll, Scotland
Genres	Folk music
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Keyboards, accordion
Years active	1980s – present
Associated acts	Capercaillie

Donald Shaw (born 1967)^[1] is a Scottish musician, composer, producer, and one of the founding members of the group Capercaillie.^[2] Shaw has composed for film and TV - for Bafta nominated film, American Cousins, and for One Last Chance, when he recorded with Louisiana musician Dirk Powell (O Brother, Where Art Thou?). In 2002 he won two Royal Television Society awards for Best Soundtrack and Best Theme in UK television for the acclaimed drama Crowdie and Cream. His score for the film Transition (released in 2000) was BAFTA nominated for best soundtrack. In 2004 he composed "Harvest", a commission for the opening night of Celtic Connections festival. He won the Scots Trad Music Composer of the Year award in December 2006.

Origins

Brought up in Taynuilt, Argyll, a part of the world steeped in Gaelic song and traditional music, Donald Shaw was involved in all styles of music from an early age. Originally taught the accordion by his father, at 16 he won the All-Britain accordion championship performing Paganiniana, Hans Brehme's renowned adaptation of Paganini's Theme and Variations. A year later, whilst still at Oban High School, returning to his love of roots music, he co-founded Capercaillie, with whom he still writes, produces and performs. His sister is fiddler Eilidh Shaw.

Composing

Throughout his musical life Donald has been involved in composing for film and TV, most recently composing the music for the Bafta nominated film, American Cousins, directed by Don Coutts (starring Shirley Henderson and Dan Hidaya). ^[3] The film won numerous awards including best film at Milan film festival. He also scored One Last Chance, a feature film written and directed by Stewart Svaasand for Dougray Scott's Production company Hero Films. For the soundtrack of One Last Chance, Donald recorded with Louisiana musician Dirk Powell (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) to create a score influenced by early American folk music.

In 2002 he was rewarded with two Royal Television Society awards for Best Soundtrack and Best Theme in UK television. The RTS awards were for the acclaimed drama, Crowdie and Cream, (co-composed with Charlie McKerron) and involved bringing over 20 musicians together from around the world, together with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. His expansive 70-minute score for the feature film Transition (released in 2000) was also BAFTA nominated for best soundtrack.

Producing

As well as film music, he has produced and recorded on more than 50 albums for artists in all areas of music, and collaborated with high profile artists as diverse as Nanci Griffith, Peter Gabriel, Ornette Coleman, Dulce Pontes, Dan ar Braz, Bonnie Raitt and James Grant. He was musical director for the BAFTA winning BBC arts show 'Tacsi', in which he produced collaborations with more than 200 of the finest musicians working in Scotland as diverse as jazz maestro Tommy Smith, piping guru Martyn Bennett and the BT Ensemble. It was with this vast experience that he launched the independent label Vertical Records in 2000, which has released many critically acclaimed albums by artists.

Celtic Connections

In January 2004 he composed "Harvest", a commission for the opening night of thee Celtic Connections festival involving 100 musicians from all Celtic regions of Europe. Also involved where some of the finest young traditional musicians from throughout Scotland from the ages of 13 to 18. "Harvest" was also performed at the 2006 Celtic Connections Festival.

In 2006, Shaw was appointed Artistic Director of Celtic Connections 2007. He won the Scots Trad Music Composer of the Year award in December 2006.

Personal Life

He is married to fellow Capercaillie member Karen Matheson. They have a son named Hector.

Discography

Appearances

• Hold Your Horses — Ella Edmondson (2009)
• Mark the Hard Earth - Kris Drever (2010)

References

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