In Part 1 of our posthumous retrospective of cellist DAVID DARLING called 'RESONANT DARK,' we focused on his groundbreaking early albums for the German ECM label. Darling told the story of his first session with ECM producer MANFRED EICHER, who set the agenda definitively by saying "I want you to go as deep as you can go." In ten albums from 1980 to 2000, they did just that, defining and setting a standard for darkly serious ambient chamber music.
But there was other music in David Darling's heart. In the early 1990s, he began to pursue a more varied, romantic, even playful direction in recordings for other labels. Rather than the two day recording schedule at ECM, he took his time. Working with patient, supportive engineer/producers like MICKEY HOULIHAN and TOMMY SKARUPA, Darling achieved new heights of beauty in his solo recordings, collaborated generously with other artists, and broadened his appeal. Through it all, he continued to inspire, teaching and leading improvisation workshops for his non-profit organization Music For People, and working with spiritual teachers like AL HUANG, SYLVIA NAKKACH, and COLEMAN BARKS.
On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we focus on David Darling's post-ECM recordings EIGHT STRING RELIGION, CELLO BLUE, GRATITUDE, HOMAGE TO KINDNESS, and his Grammy-winning PRAYER FOR COMPASSION.
[ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]
Thanks for giving us Parts One and Two of your David Darling Retrospective. The HoS Retros seem to be the best as “representative” of all the composers’ works.
It was your website’s notice that told me of David’s passing from our sight. I lamented reading that, partly because I enjoy waiting for more of his music, which even now I can do, having many of his CDs, but also because there is most likely no known DD “sheet music” for many of those cello pieces. In his last email Reply, he had not decided on that yet. So I waited. I should inquire at his website now.
Years before that, I met David Darling one time, in Los Angeles. Actually, it was in a thrift store, of all the unlikely places. “Eight String Religion,” is what he said. Or, what the album cover said. “Religion” awash with Church-ianity is not my strong point. So I left it there, pre-judging that work.
But a day or two later I visited this same thrift store, and he was still there. I looked at him on the CD cover for a long while, perceiving him. Then read the selection titles and blurb text. David may not have been there in person, but the text was written so well that for me, in my less than bright moodiness, he may as well have been. A kindred soul, perhaps. His music soon sounded like it.
It was impressive that maybe he was having the same struggles as mine. For years. Both of us, separated by a CD album. So I bought it. When I listened to his music, it “resonated,” it got a response. Here was music I could listen to and relate to. It was a comfort.
It may be “dark,” but that’s what fit my dark moments then, and his subsequent albums have only improved on their comfort. I wonder how many other similarly ‘challenged’ listeners feel the same. Goodbye David. I wish we had met in-person.
So yes, thanks for your HoS David Darling retros.
Posted by: David Darling's unmet kindred spirit | 09 February 2021 at 11:07 PM