Ronn McFarlane (born 1953) is an American

lutenist A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted. More specifically, the term "lute" can re ...

and composer, most notable as an interpreter of

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...

music. He formerly taught lute at the

Peabody Conservatory The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University is a private conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded in 1857 and opened in 1866 by merchant/financier and philanthropist George Peabody (1795–1869), ...

, and has recorded many albums as a solo performer and in collaboration with others, including the groups Ayreheart and The Baltimore Consort, and as a guest artist for countless other groups. He resides in

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...

, and continues to perform and compose to this day.

Life and career

Ronn McFarlane was born in

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...

and grew up in

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

. He began playing guitar as a teenager and went on to play blues and rock music in popular music bands. He studied classical guitar at Shenandoah Conservatory and continued his studies at

with

Paul O'Dette Paul Raymond O'Dette (born February 2, 1954) is an American lutenist, conductor, and musicologist specializing in early music. Biography O'Dette, who was born in Pittsburgh, began playing the electric guitar in a rock band in Columbus, Ohio, w ...

, Roger Harmon, and

Pat O'Brien Pat O'Brien may refer to: Politicians * Pat O'Brien (Canadian politician) (born 1948), member of the Canadian House of Commons *Pat O'Brien (Irish politician) (c. 1847–1917), Irish Nationalist MP in the United Kingdom Parliament Others *Pat O'Br ...

. In 1978, he began to concentrate on lute, and in 1979 became a founding member of the Baltimore Consort. He began a touring career in the United States, Canada and Europe, both with the Baltimore Consort and as a soloist. From 1984-1995, he was a faculty member of the Peabody Conservatory teaching lute. In 1996, he received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Shenandoah Conservatory for his achievements as a musician and recording artist. McFarlane began composing music for the lute and working with a new ensemble called Ayreheart. He has also published collections of lute music, including ''Scottish Lute'' in 1998 and ''Highland King: The Scottish Lute'' in 2003.

Discography

McFarlane made over 25 recordings for the

Dorian Recordings Dorian Recordings was a record label based in Troy, New York, most noted for its extensive series of early music recordings. Dorian made many of its recordings at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and supported the local all-classical radio stat ...

label, including solo albums, lute performances, recordings with the Baltimore Consort and other selections. His solo CD ''Indigo Road'', which featured original compositions, received a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Classical Crossover Album in 2009.

Solo

*''The Art of Vivaldi's Lute'', 2011 *''One Morning'', 2009 *''Indigo Road'', 2007 *''The Art of the Lute'', 2003 *''Highland King'', 1999 *''A Distant Shore'', 1997 *''Between Two Hearts'', 1996 *''The Renaissance Lute'', 1994 *''The Lute Music of

John Dowland John Dowland (c. 1563 – buried 20 February 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep", " Come again", "Flow my tears", " I saw my Lady weepe", ...

'', 1991 *''The Scottish Lute'', 1990

Collaborations

*''Fermi's Paradox'', with Carloyn Surrick, 2020 *''Nine Notes that Shook the World'' with

Mindy Rosenfeld Mindy Rosenfeld is an American flutist, piper and harpist, noted as a founding member of the Baltimore Consort, specializing in Renaissance music. She is also credited as Mindy Rosenfeld Hedges. Life and career Mindy Rosenfeld, graduated with a B ...

, 2013 *''Two Lutes'' with William Simms, 2012 *''Blame Not My Lute'' with Robert Aubry Davis, 2010 *''The Italian Lute Song'' with

Julianne Baird Julianne Baird (born December 10, 1952) is an American soprano best known for her singing in Baroque works, in both opera and sacred music. She has nearly 100 recordings to her credit and is a well-traveled recitalist and soloist with major sym ...

, 1996 *''The English Lute Song'' with

, 1993 *''O Mistress Mine'' with Frederick Urrey, 1986 *''Greensleeves'' with

, 1985

With Ayreheart

*''Barley Moon'', 2016

With The Baltimore Consort

*''Adio Espana: Romances Sonatas & Improvisations'', 2009 *''Bright Day Star'', 2009 *''Live in Concert'' (live recording), 2008 *''Gut, Wind and Wire'', 2007 *''Adew Dundee'', 2003 *''Best of the Baltimore Consort'' (compilation), 2003 *''Amazing Grace'' also with

Custer LaRue Custer LaRue is a soprano vocalist of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. She specializes in Renaissance music and traditional folk music such as the Child ballads and music collected in Appalachia during the early 20th century. Biography La ...

, 2001 *''The Mad Buckgoat'', 1999 *''The Ladyes Delight'', 1998 *''Tunes from the Attic'', 1997 *''A Trip to Killburn'', 1996 *''A Baltimore Consort Collection'', 1996 *''The True Lover's Farewell'' also with

, 1995 *''La Rocque 'N' Roll'', 1993 *''Custer LaRue Sing the Daemon Lover'' also with

, 1993 *''The Art of the Bawdy Song'', 1993 *''Watkins Ale'', 1992 *''On the Banks of Helicon'', 1990

Works

Selected compositions include:

Chamber works

*''Sycamore'', for lute, flute and bass *''Indigo Road'', for lute *''Cathedral Cave'', for lute, flute, bass and percussion *''Denali'', for lute *''Overland'', for lute, harp, string quartet, bass and percussion *''Pinetops'', for lute, cittern and bass *''Blue Norther'', for lute *''Chocolate Factory'', for lute and percussion *''Rosa'', for lute, harmonium, bass and percussion *''Uncharted Waters'', for lute and bass *''Dowland's Goodnight'', for lute *''Early Christmas Morning'', for lute *''Gigue'', for lute *''Thistleheart'', for lute, flute and bass *''Over the Green Earth'', for lute *''Augusta'', for lute, harp, bass and percussion *''A Day in November'', for lute and ensemble *''Bad Hair Day'', for lute, sounds and ensemble *''Dakota Days'', for lute *''Before the Wind'', for lute and ensemble *''Man of Arms'', for lute *''On the Heath'', for two lutes *''Lullaby for Anne'', for lute *''One Morning'', for lute and percussion

Vocal works

*''Borderland'', song *''Snapdragon'', song *''Wolf Summit'', song *''Union Bridge'', song

Choral works

*''Nocturne'', for chorus and lute *''Sings in Her Sleep'', song

References

External links

Official Website
*
Ayreheart original homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:McFarlane, Ronn 1953 births Living people American male classical composers American classical composers Musicians from West Virginia American lutenists 20th-century classical composers 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians