Following in the footsteps of Jean-Pierre Rampal, he became one of the first flute players to establish an international career as a soloist.
Galway went to London as a teenager to study the flute.
He studied at the Royal College of Music under John Francis and then at the Guildhall School of Music under Geoffrey Gilbert.
He then studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Gaston Crunelle and Jean-Pierre Rampal and also privately with Marcel Moyse.
After his education time he spent fifteen years as an orchestral player.
Sir James Galway played with the Philharmonia Orchestra as it rose to prominence in the 1950s.
He auditioned for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan, and was principal flute of that orchestra from 1969 to 1975.
To Karajan's surprise and dismay, after a period of some disagreement, "Jimmy" Galway decided that he would leave to pursue a solo career, which he succeeded in doing admirably.
He still performs regularly and is one of the world's leading classical flute players.
He is Principal Guest Conductor of the London Mozart Players, based at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, South London.
And most recently, he performed for the Academy Award-winning ensemble recording the soundtracks of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
He now resides in Meggen, Switzerland, with his U.S.-born wife, Jeanne, also flute player. They often tour together playing duets, accompanied by Phillip Moll on piano.
I Wonder As I Wander
James Galway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How jesus, the savior, had come for to die
For poor on'ry people, like you and like i.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When mary birthed jesus, t'was in a cow's stall
With wisemen and farmers and shepherds and all,
But high in god's heaven a star's light did fall,
If jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of god's angels in heaven for to sing
He surely could have it, for he was the king!
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How jesus, the savior, had come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like i.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
"I Wonder As I Wander" is a traditional Appalachian carol, and James Galway's version features his haunting flute melodies accompanied by piano. The song expresses the wonder and awe of the singer as they ponder on the salvation brought by Jesus Christ.
The first verse captures the essence of the song, as the singer walks out under the sky and muses on the death of Jesus, the savior, who came to save the poor and ordinary people. The natural world is a recurring theme throughout the song, highlighting the humbleness of the setting of Jesus' birth, where he was born in a cow's stall and visited by shepherds and farmers. Yet, the star from heaven was a symbol of what was to come, as it recalled the ancient promise of salvation through the ages.
The final verse speaks of the power of Jesus as the king who could ask for anything but chose to humble himself to the point of death for all people. Overall, the song is a reflection, a testament and a reminder of the great love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
I am filled with awe and amazement as I walk beneath the vast expanse of the sky.
How Jesus, the Savior, had come for to die
I am fascinated by the idea that Jesus, who is revered as the Savior of the world, had willingly come to Earth to die for the salvation of humanity.
For poor on'ry people, like you and like I
This sacrifice was made for the benefit of regular, ordinary people like us, who may not have had any special qualities or accomplishments.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
I ponder this thought as I continue my journey beneath the open sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus, t'was in a cow's stall
The humble birthplace of Jesus was in a lowly cow's stable, which underscores his humbleness and accessibility to all people.
With wisemen and farmers and shepherds and all
Despite initial anonymity, the news of his birth had spread and a wide variety of people had come to see him, including both learned men and working-class laborers.
But high in God's heaven a star's light did fall
However, a star shining brightly in the sky acted as a beacon of hope and symbol of God's involvement in this miraculous event.
And the promise of ages, it then did recall.
This star reminded people of the ancient prophecies that foretold of the coming of a Savior, who would bring hope and redemption to the world.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
Since Jesus was believed to have divine power, he could have summoned anything he desired.
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
For example, he could have called forth a star from the heavens or caused a bird to take flight at his command.
Or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing
He even had the power to command a host of heavenly angels to sing in praise and reverence to him.
He surely could have it, for he was the king!
His divine nature as the Son of God made it so that anything was possible for him.
Writer(s): John Jacob Niles, Carl Ruetti
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.