David Darling

The Profile

David Darling (1941–2021) was an American cellist and composer noted for his ECM recordings, his tenure with the Paul Winter Consort, and for co-founding Music for People. He won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Prayer for Compassion.

Reviews highlight: the ECM collaboration with producer Manfred Eicher; Cello (1991) as a solo, acoustic/electric, often overdubbed album of stark, melancholic intensity; and Cycles (1982) as an ensemble work featuring Jan Garbarek, Collin Walcott, Arild Andersen, Steve Kuhn, and Oscar Castro-Neves, praised for its breath-as-one interplay.

Two glowing reviews spotlight David Darling’s ECM recordings. Cello (1991) is a stark, solo journey—acoustic and electrified, often overdubbed, steeped in somber beauty. Cycles (1982) celebrates ensemble breath and unity with Garbarek, Walcott, Andersen, Kuhn, and Castro-Neves. Both pieces praise Eicher’s shaping hand and Darling’s emotive depth.