Ronan Browne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ronan Browne is an Irish musician and composer who plays the uilleann pipes. He is the grandson of Delia Murphy. He is the Uilleann Piper and Singer with CRAN. He plays in a duet with Peter O'Loughlin. He was the original piper with both Riverdance and the Afro Celt Sound System. He has contributed music to the film soundtracks of Circle of Friends, Rob Roy, Robin of Loxely, The Secret of Roan Inish, Streets of Gold, Gangs of New York. and the TV series Bringing It All Back Home

Contents

[edit] Background

Ronan was born in Dublin in 1965 into a very strong musical background. His grandmother Delia Murphy was renowned for recording and popularising many Irish songs in the 1930's and 1940's such as "If I Were A Blackbird", 'The Spinning Wheel', and Three Lovely Lassies From Bannion'. Delia, the wife of Dr. T.J. Kiernan, Irish Ambassador to The Vatican, Australia, Germany, America and Canada, brought Irish musical culture to audiences throughout the world.

Musicians such as Séamus Ennis, Willie Clancy and Denis Murphy were regular visitors to Ronan’s family home over the years. He began playing the pipes at the age of seven and was quickly taken under the various wings of the old masters, his main influences being pipers Willie Clancy, Johnny Doran and Séamus Ennis, whilst fiddlers Denis Murphy and Tommy Potts also played a strong role in forming his early style.

Ronan has toured extensively in Europe and in the USA, as well as playing in Russia, India, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Japan. He gives master classes throughout the world.

He has been involved in over 75 album recordings since his first venture into the studio in 1982 and has collaborated with many of the top artists playing Traditional Irish Music, Classical, Pop, Jazz and Country. These include people such as Anuna, Donal Lunny, Finbar Wright, Alan Stivell, The Indigo Girls, Tommy Hayes, Sean Tyrrell, Bill Whelan, Elvis Costello, Nightnoise, Michael Kamen, Paul Brady, Bill Laswell, Sinéad O'Connor, Peter Gabriel and Deep Forest.

After releasing the easy-listening album Celtic Moods in 1997, Ronan released a solo traditional CD The Wynd You Know in 2001, with Claddagh Records. 2005 saw the release of a third solo CD Salute to the Brave, mostly of his own modern compositions.

[edit] Duet with Peter O'Loughlin

Due to Ronan’s friendship and musical collaboration with Peter O'Loughlin they recorded a duet album in 1988 with Claddagh Records called The South West Wind and in 2002, released a 2nd CD called Touch Me if You Dare. They have recorded a third album for a 2007 release.

[edit] CRAN

Ronan is a member of the group CRAN with Sean Corcoran and Desi Wilkinson. CRAN have released four CDs and tour worldwide. The core of their repertoire is native Irish material - dance music or slow airs on flute and pipes, and vocals ranging from the highly-ornamented sean-nós songs of Conamara to the rollicking port a' bhéil or mouth music of Donegal. Their Hiberno-English song repertoire (songs from Ireland in English) covers the entire gamut from the old story-telling "long ballads" to lively comic songs of "pure divilment and rascality". They also include material from the related Scots-Gaelic tradition and from the other Atlantic Celts, the Bretons.

Over the last 20 years, Ronan has established a duet with fiddle player Kevin Glackin; Kevin regularly joins CRAN for recordings along with Triona Ní Dhomhnaill (Bothy Band).

[edit] Performances

Ronan has played many prestigious concerts in Ireland and abroad as a solo musician and has also been a guest member to a wide variety of groups.

Although best known as a traditional musician, Ronan is also keenly interested in exploring other musical genres particularly in film and television. Ronan has written and performed music for fashion shows in London and Paris by designers Lainey Keogh and John Rocha.

[edit] Teaching

Ronan has been teaching the pipes, flute and whistle worldwide 1980 and has recently developed a music appreciation/listening class with the assistance of the Irish Arts Council.

[edit] Film Music & Television

Along with the late Michael Kamen, Ronan composed the soundtrack for the documentary film 'The Dolphin's Gift', directed by Kim Kindersley. More recently, the two of them collaborated on the score to 'Circle of Friends', the film dramatisation of Maeve Binchy's novel.

Ronan has also contributed music to the film soundtracks of ‘Robin of Loxely’, ‘Rob Roy’, ‘Fierce Creatures’, ‘The Secret of Roan Inish’, ‘Streets of Gold’ and ‘Gangs of New York’.

On Angelica Huston’s ‘Mrs. Browne’, Ronan was Traditional Irish Music Director.

He composed and recorded scores for the videos and slide shows at the Wexford 1798 Vinegar Hill Interpretative Centre in Enniscorthy, at the Waterford Treasures Centre and at the King John interpretative Centre in Limerick City.

TG4, the Irish TV station, commissioned Ronan to write the music for the daily news program ‘Nuacht’ a six part drama series ‘Geibheann’ and a drama ‘An Gaeilgeoir Nocht’.

Ronan appears regularly on Irish music and magazine programs on national television and radio. He has also played for numerous television advertisements.

He appeared on ABC Network's 65 million audience 'Good Morning America' playing the Uilleann Pipes with Donal Lunny, Nollaig Casey and Arty McGlynn. He played on the theme music to the six-part series 'Bringing it all Back Home' - an independent television program dealing with the influence of Irish music on American Folk and Contemporary music.

Ronan featured in Hummingbird's 'Rivers of Sound', which explores many aspects of traditional Irish music.

[edit] Theatre

Ronan worked with Tommy Hayes, on the writing and performance of music for the Abbey Theatre productions of The Playboy of the Western World and Macbeth. He joined forces again with Tommy and dancer Cindy Cummings to give off-beat improvised performances.

The Olympia Theatre performance of The Tailor and Ansty with Anna Manahan and Frank Kelly saw Ronan playing music and acting a small role.

Ronan's version of the Blasket Island air Port na bPucaí was chosen by Limerick's Daghda dance group for their part in the huge Famine commemoration held in Millstreet in 1997.

[edit] Ronan Browne Discography

[edit] Solo

  1. Celtic Moods – “Haunting Melodies of Ireland” (CRIMCD72) 1997
  2. The Wynd You Know – Traditional Pipes solo CD (CC64CD) 2001
  3. Salute to the Brave - Ronan Browne & the Patriot Corps (BCI40945-2) 2005

[edit] CRAN

  1. The Crooked Stair (BRRCD001) 1995/2006
  2. Black, Black, Black – 2nd CRAN CD with Shel Talmy (CC63CD) 1998
  3. Lover’s Ghost (BRRCD003) 2000
  4. Music from the Edge of the World (BRRCD004) 2003

[edit] Ronan Browne & Peter O'Loughlin

  1. The South West Wind (CC47CD) 1988
  2. Touch me if you Dare (CCF35CD) 2002
  3. Third CD with Peter O'Loughlin (CCF**CD) 2007

[edit] Afro Celt Sound System

  1. Afrocelt Sound System Vol I – (Sound Magic) (CDRW61) 1996
  2. Afro Celt Sound System Vol 2 (Release) (CDRW76) 1999

[edit] Ronan Browne Full Discography

Records and CDs on which Ronan has worked.

1982

  • Dysart Tola - Music from Dublin and Clare.

1987

1988

1989

  • Five Guys Named Mo - Canadian pop group.

1990

  • At is Again - A contemporary Irish and Scottish album, by Manus Lunny and Andy M Stewart.

1991

  • Bringing it all Back Home - Accompanying the television series. (CD BBC CD 844)
  • 'The Final Fantasy IV Celtic Moon - Music for Japanese video game. (N30D-006)

1992

  • Next Generation - The Irish Folk Festival duet with Kevin Glackin. (TÜT CD 72.7492)
  • The Indigo Girls - American pop duo

1993

  • Angel Candles - with Maire Breatnach. (SCD 593)
  • Browne / Glackin / Tyrrell – once-off for European Tour (Not commercially released)

1994

  • Heritage des Celtes - Dan ar Bras / Donal Lunny.(COL477763 2)
  • Taobh na Greine/Under the Sun - Seosaimhin ní Bheaglaoich / Donal Lunny. (CEFCD 170)
  • Tir na nOg - Anne Wylie. (FMS 2060)
  • Branohm - The Voyage of Bran – Maire Breathnach. (SCD 394)
  • Winds of Freedom - John Beag Ó Flatharta (CICD 106)
  • Riverdance - Theme music for Eurovision '94
  • Drones and Chanters Vol. 2 - Solo piping compilation.
  • Brian Boru. With Breton Harpist Alan Stivell

1995

  • Secret of Roan Inish - soundtrack to the film.
  • River of Sound - Accompanying the television series. (Hummingbird)
  • Riverdance - The Show. (KCD 370)

1996

1997

  • ROKA with Mimori Yusa (Japanese pop star). (ESCB 1799)
  • A Room In The North With Tommy Hayes(OPP CD 001)
  • Celtic Moods - Melodies of Ireland on Pipes (CRIMCD72)
  • ZAN - TOMOKO - Japanese singer & Band (SRCL 3992)
  • Emer Kenny - Irish contemporary artist (314 536 228-2)
  • Seacht - with Iarla Ó Lionaird (Real World)

1998

  • Black, Black, Black – 2nd CRAN CD produced by Shel Talmy (CC63CD)
  • Art of Magic - CD Rom game with members of Afro Celts
  • 1st Celtic Tenors CD
  • The Seer - German pop group
  • Claddagh’s Choice – Compilation (CC40-65CD)

1999

  • Afro Celt Sound System Vol 2 (Release)- CDRW76
  • Transatlantic Sessions – with US Country artists
  • A Real Irish Christmas – Compilation (832262)
  • The Crossing - Tim O’Brien Nashville artist CD ALU-1014

2000

  • Melody of Legend I – Japanese game music hits performed solo
  • Melody of Legend II – Japanese game music hits performed solo
  • 2nd Celtic Tenors CD
  • Siol/Seed – various artists (Agherbaun Records OPP CD2)
  • Come dance with Me in Ireland – Compilation (Atlantic 83273)
  • Pure Bodhrán – compilation track with Tommy Hayes (BBM 001)
  • Alison Hood CD – Cellist
  • Lover’s Ghost - 3rd CRAN album (BRRCD003)

2001

  • Journey – Best of Donal Lunny: April 3rd track (HBCD0024)
  • Rua – Contemporary Celtic Vocal Duo
  • The Irish Tenors – Ellis Island Guest
  • The Wynd You Know – solo CD (CC64CD)
  • Yoko Ueno CD - Japanese Singer / arranger

2002

  • Touch me if you Dare - 2nd Duet album with Peter O'Loughlin
  • Celtic Tenors – So Strong: Pipes on The Green Fields Of France and Mull of Kintyre

2003

  • Gaelic Ireland – compilation with CRAN: Na Ceannabhain (EUCD1821)
  • Music from the Edge of the World 4th CRAN album (BRRCD004)
  • Songs, Jigs & Reels – Browne, Glackin, Tyrrell (Not commercially released)

2004

  • The Thing Itself – Peter O’Loughlin & Maeve Donnelly (CCF36CD)

2005

  • Rough Guide to Irish Music, 2nd – Comp: CRAN Taimse 'n Arrears (RGNET1148CD)
  • Salute to the Brave - Ronan Browne & the Patriot Corps (BCI40945-2)
  • Beginners Guide to Ireland – Comp CRAN: Na Ceannabhain Bhána (NSBOX012)
  • The Humours of Holland – Piping Compilation
  • Balance – BEUC Creative Commons Comp: Ronan track: Solas
  • Celtic Tiger - Soundtrack to Flatley show (B000B8GT9M)

2006

  • The Crooked Stair – Re-mastered 1st CRAN album (BRRCD001)
  • The Hop Down – Breda Keville Solo CD Engineered by Ronan (BKCD 205)
  • Wooden Flute Obsession 3 – Flute Compilation (ITMS0601)
  • Geantraí – CD & DVD: TV performance with Peter O’Loughlin (CRFCD 189)

2007

[edit] External Links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/o/n/Ronan_Browne_a6e0.html"