Steáfán Hannigan is an Irish musician, author, composer,
audio engineer
An audio engineer (also known as a sound engineer or recording engineer) helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproduc ...
,
musicologist
Musicology is the academic, research-based study of music, as opposed to musical composition or performance. Musicology research combines and intersects with many fields, including psychology, sociology, acoustics, neurology, natural sciences, f ...
and instrument maker. Since 2008, he has made his home in Canada.
Hannigan is a multi-instrumentalist. Some of the instruments he plays are the
uilleann pipes
The uilleann pipes ( or , ), also known as Union pipes and sometimes called Irish pipes, are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland. Their current name is a partial translation of the Irish language terms (literally, "pipes of the ...
,
[ John Fordham]
"More a chop than a change "
''The Guardian'', 30 June 1999. Bodhrán
The bodhrán (, ; plural ''bodhráin'') is a frame drum used in Irish music ranging from in diameter, with most drums measuring . The sides of the drum are deep. A Goatskin (material), goatskin head is tacked to one side (synthetic heads or ot ...
[ ]tin whistle
The tin whistle, also known as the penny whistle, is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is a type of fipple flute, a class of instrument which also includes the recorder and Native American flute. A tin whistle player is called a whistl ...
, low whistle
The low whistle, or concert whistle, is a variation of the traditional tin whistle/pennywhistle, distinguished by its lower pitch and larger size. It is most closely associated with the performances of British and Irish artists such as Tommy Mak ...
,["Interview: Donald Quan"]
. ''Strange Horizons'', By Peggi Warner-Lalonde 25 March 2002 bouzouki
The bouzouki (, also ; ; alt. pl. ''bouzoukia'', , from Greek , from Turkish ) is a musical instrument popular in West Asia (Syria, Iraq), Europe and Balkans (Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey). It is a member of the long-necked lute fam ...
, guitar, tenor banjo, flute, mandolin and various percussion instruments.
Early life and education
Hannigan was born and grew up in Belfast
Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...
, Northern Ireland.[Karen Longwell]
"Local performers shine in 4th Line Theatre show"
''Northumberland News'', 29 July 2011.
Career
As a young man Hannigan began performing at festivals and local events, playing the uilleann pipes, tin whistle and percussion instruments. In 1991 he and Simon Care performed the soundtrack for a BBC radio play, ''Voyage of the Swallows'', by Eric Pringle. In 1992 he won an All-Britain uilleann pipe award. In 1994 he published an instructional book, ''Bodhrán Basics''
Hannigan founded the Steafan Hannigan Band, which later became the Irish band Sin É.Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in Buckinghamshire, England, about north-west of London. At the 2021 Census, the population of Milton Keynes urban area, its urban area was 264,349. The River Great Ouse forms t ...
, England, and produced a number of albums, including ''Tig'' (Serious Kitchen), and ''Not to Scale
''Not to Scale'' is the first album by folk band Kerfuffle.
Track listing
(All tracks arranged by Kerfuffle)
Personnel
*Sam Sweeney (fiddle, percussion)
*Hannah James (Accordion, piano, vocals, clogging)
*Chris Thornton-Smith (Guitar)
*Tom ...
'' (Kerfuffle
Kerfuffle were a four-piece English Folk music, folk band, originally formed in 2001 around the East Midlands and South Yorkshire regions of the UK, initially comprising Hannah James (musician), Hannah James (accordion, piano, vocals, step dan ...
). While there he was interviewed by ''Irish Music Magazine'' in 1999.
In 1999, Hannigan and Sin É released an album in the United States, ''Deep Water Dropoff'' on the RCA label.
As well as fronting his own band, Hannigan performed widely with other artists and bands, including Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the line-up of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher (musician), Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, the band currently consists ...
[ (in French, about something called "Get Right With Me").] Bjork, Aessia D'Andrea, and Band of Hope. He played various instruments on the albums of many bands and singers (see the discography section below).
In 2000 he published another instructional book, ''The Low Whistle Book'', with David Ledsam.
In 2001 Hannigan arranged and performed all the instrumental solo parts for the Lionhead video game Black and White composed by Russell Shaw.
Hannigan met and married violinist Saskia Tomkins. In 2008, after moving to Canada, Hannigan and Tomkins formed a band called Cairdeas (Friends) with singer Elizabeth Barlow, and independently released an album of Irish songs and tunes, ''Generous Lover''. Barlow was later replaced by Marsala Lukianchuk, and the band released a second album, ''Christmas by Candlelight''. The pair continued to perform both together and separately with various Canadian groups.
During his career Hannigan has performed and presented workshops at many festivals["How did I get tangled up in all these Celtic roots?"]
''Goderich Signal Star'', 12 August 2008 and other music-related venues.[Janet Harron]
"Animated Indian epic screened first at Memorial"
''Today'', Memorial University, 2 December 2008.
In 2011 Hannigan performed ''The Brendan Voyage'', by Shaun Davey, the only classical suite written especially for uilleann pipes, accompanied by the Northumberland Orchestra in Cobourg.
Hannigan was the sound editor and audio effects creator for the 26 part animated film series ''Legend of Ponnivala'', released in 2013.["Driving Miss Daisy offers some nice surprises"]
''Northumberland Today'', 22 May 2014.
Personal life
Hannigan and Tomkins have three musical children. In 2015 they live in Baltimore, Ontario. The family occasionally performs together at local events as Clan Hannigan.
Publications
*
Partial discography
*''Songs of Faith and Devotion
''Songs of Faith and Devotion'' is the eighth studio album by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was first released on 22 March 1993 in the United Kingdom by Mute Records and a day later in the United States by Sire Records and ...
'', Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the line-up of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher (musician), Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, the band currently consists ...
, recorded 1992, released 1993 – one track called 'Judas'.
*''This Morning'', Lammas band, 1993Jackie Leven
Jackie Leven (18 June 1950 – 14 November 2011) was a Scottish songwriter and folk musician. After starting his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he first found success with new wave band Doll by Doll. He later recorded as a solo ...
, 1998
*''Heritage'', Eileen McGann, 1997.
*''Invocata'', Donald Quan, 1998, Oasis Productions.Kerfuffle
Kerfuffle were a four-piece English Folk music, folk band, originally formed in 2001 around the East Midlands and South Yorkshire regions of the UK, initially comprising Hannah James (musician), Hannah James (accordion, piano, vocals, step dan ...
band, 2003. Also produced this album at Oisín Studios.
*''Unexpected Songs'', Julian Lloyd Webber
Julian Lloyd Webber (born 14 April 1951) is a British solo cellist, conductor and broadcaster, a former principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the founder of the In Harmony music education programme.
Early years and education
Julia ...
, Emi Classics, 2006
*''Ancient Muse'', Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt (born February 17, 1957) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who writes, records, and performs world music with Celtic music, Celtic and Middle Eastern music, Middle Eastern influences. McKenni ...
, Verve, 2006.
*'' Nights from the Alhambra'', Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt (born February 17, 1957) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who writes, records, and performs world music with Celtic music, Celtic and Middle Eastern music, Middle Eastern influences. McKenni ...
DVD and CD
*''Heading Home'', Christina Kidd. Also co-producer.
*''Alessia D'ANDREA'' – Alessia D'Andrea, Renilin Music Label, 2009
*''Cold in April'' Mat Walklate, self-released, 2006.
*''Down the Irish Gravel Road'', Tom Acton, Full Spiral Productions, 2009.
*''Singing on the Wind'', Anne Lister, Hearthfire.
Audio and video production
* ''Legend of Ponnivala'', 26 episode video series. Sound editing, audio effects,
Stage
*''The Cavan Blazers'', Fourth Line Theatre, 2011.
Partial list of festivals
* Northwest Folklife Festival
*Seattle World Rhythm Festival
*Calgary Folk Music Festival 1993
*Ottawa Folk Festival 1996
*Wackelsteinfestival
*Goderich Celtic College
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hannigan, Steafan
Emigrants from Northern Ireland to Canada
Musicians from Belfast
Multi-instrumentalists from Northern Ireland
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people