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Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick: And So Flows the River (Flowerpot Productions) New Classical Tracks - Carolyn Surrick & Ronn McFarlane by “The music that we're doing is music that's really a part of us,” viola da gamba player Carolyn Surrick says. “It's like music inside of us, the way that the deciduous forest is inside of us, because this is where we're from.”Surrick and Ronn McFarlane have both lived in Maryland for most of their lives. Their careers have run somewhat parallel, with Surrick playing viola da gamba in the Ensemble Galilei, which she founded in 1990, and McFarlane playing lute with the Baltimore Consort and the folk trio Ayreheart, the ensemble he founded. Three years ago, when touring came to a halt during the global pandemic, they finally had the time to make music together, and they've been doing so ever since. They've just released their third recording, And So Flows the River.Surrick: “This is the music of our lives. We're both over 60, and we've had a lot of time to incorporate music into our lives, to have music become central to our being. And so I wanted to bring the idea that as our lives are flowing along, we're accumulating music, we're accumulating things that we love along the way and bringing them to this project.”How did you decide on the title And So Flows the River? How does it reflect what we're hearing on the recording?McFarlane: “In terms of flowing, the repertory itself was a real flow state for each of us. It brought music that each of us loved, regardless of the genre that it came from. So I think we kind of get into a flow state when we're deciding what to play, bringing up pieces from any memory, any part of our lives, anything we might have heard of, or maybe we're just discovering something for the first time.”The album features Erik Satie's Gymnopedies. What is your relationship to the pieces?Surrick: “I think we both remember hearing them for the first time in the 1970s and thinking this music is so special. I mean, so simple and so beautiful. It has so much in it. So when we were casting about for what to put on this new recording, I said, ‘what about the Gymnopedies?' And it was kind of like, ‘Well, why not?'”McFarlane: “My first experience of them was in the 1970s, but I didn't hear it on the piano at first. I heard it live in a guitar recital played by Christopher Parkening, who made some excellent arrangements of them. But I was so captivated hearing the first Gymnopedie for the first time that I really fell in love with it.”You both also heard about Bach's Sinfonia in the 1970s. What is your relationship with that piece?McFarlane: “Yes, I first heard it when I went to a record store. That was back when they had records around 1968 or ‘69. I got the first Led Zeppelin album and the Walter Carlos, now Wendy Carlos, album Switched-On Bach. So I first heard this on a synthesizer with all its boops and beeps and whistles. So I think my idea of how it ought to sound was permanently skewed by hearing it that way. And it just sounded so fresh and great.”And now you have added your own arrangement of the piece, which you described as a revelation. Why did you describe it that way?Surrick: “We sat down to play it, and there was so much happening. You almost can't imagine that these two instruments could be doing all of this at the same time.”And you have a percussionist on the recording? Surrick: “Yes. Yousif Sheronick. He's fabulous. And so I call him up out of the blue, and he's like, ‘Yeah, cool. I'm free.'”Give me an example of his playing in this recording that you want to make sure we don't miss.McFarlane: “Well, I think the very first piece, W. Lee's Reel, where Yusif is playing an ocean drum, is a great one.“This piece has kind of a Scotch-Irish flavor to it, which reflects my dad's background. It's a sort of adventurous piece because it has something in the flute part that sounds like a propulsive fiddle tune in the Scotch-Irish tradition. And yet that's not the lead voice. You would think so because of the beginning. But as it goes along, the gamba comes in and actually has the melody as the slower moving part. Somehow, it seemed to fit the personality of my dad.” W. Lee's ReelResourcesRonn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick - And So Flows the River (Amazon)Carolyn Surrick - official websiteRonn McFarlane - official website
Viola da gambist Carolyn Surrick and Grammy-nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane have joined together again for their latest album "And So Flows The River." The celebrated artists will perform selections from their new project at a benefit concert at the Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter in Baltimore on Saturday, May 20, from 3:00 – 4:00pm. For more details, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Viola da gambist Carolyn Surrick and lutenist Ronn McFarlane talk about their new recording Fermi's Paradox, a project born of the pandemic, when both artists saw their live performances cancelled. This beautifully eclectic album contains new compositions and arrangements for the duo, including the title track – Ronn McFarlane's meditation on the famous question posed by Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi: if the probability of intelligent extraterrestrial life is so high, then where is everybody?
Here's a Stoop Story from Space Telescope Science Institute astronomer, Nora Lutzgendorf about her work on the James Webb Space Telescope. The J-W-S-T is scheduled to launch Friday, Dec. 24, -- just missing the Winter Solstice. But you don't have to miss it! There are lots of ways coming up to proclaim--even celebrate- the solstice: Ensemble Galilei with guests James Oxley and Ronn Mcfarlane will perform their Winter Solstice concert Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at An die Musik in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood. Also on Tuesday, you can celebrate the Winter Solstice in Wyman Park Dell from 7 to 9 PM. The event features live music from Jim Eagan & Friends, warm drinks and sweet treats from Gertrude's. ‘The Longest night,' a worship experience to acknowledge the heartache and pain some experience during the holidays, will take place at Towson United Methodist Church on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Also that evening, Tuesday, December 21, from 5 to 7 p.m, Health Care for the Homeless will host A Night of Remembrance and Reflection for neighbors without homes who have died in the past year. That will be in person at McKeldin Square, at Light and East Pratt Streets in Baltimore, as well as online. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick, with Jackie Moran — A Star in the East (Flower Pot Productions) Jump to giveaway form New Classical Tracks - Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick by Last year around this time, Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick, who are usually quite busy with their early music ensembles, had the time and space to finally make music together. That special musical connection has just produced their second recording, A Star in the East. It features more original music, and a fresh look at some familiar Christmas melodies. How do we hear Christmas throughout the album? Carolyn: “I don't think Christmas will ever be the same after 2020. We're transforming the music the way our lives and Christmas have been transformed. One beautiful way this CD and music came together was in the ‘Carol of the Bells.' Ron did a beautiful arrangement, which gets overlaid with ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.' “You also have the ‘L'Homme Arme,' which is a piece of music that most people have no idea what it is. It's part of our musical history because it was an incredibly popular tune in the 16th and late 15th-century. “‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' is definitely not a gamba and lute piece. I'm sure that this piece has never been recorded with gamba and lute before. We were in the process of looking at pieces that we love that have something meaningful to say.” Can you tell me about ‘What Wondrous Love Is This/ Walking In The Air'? Ronn: “I brought ‘Walking In The Air' to one of our rehearsals. It's something that I had loved for a long time because it was from the animated Christmas movie The Snowman. The idea of putting it together along with ‘What Wondrous Love Is This' and creating a sort of bridge between the two was completely Carolyn's inspiration.” Can you talk about the title track that you wrote for Carolyn? Ronn: “I actually wrote it before we recorded our first album, Fermi's Paradox. I felt so happy and excited to play with Carolyn. I wanted to create some music specifically for us and also write for viola da gamba in a way that exploited what it can do.” Carolyn: “I can tell you exactly what it was like the first time we played it. ‘Oh, this is so beautiful!'” To hear the rest of my conversation, click on the extended interview above, or download the extended podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch now Giveaway Giveaway You must be 13 or older to submit any information to American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about things like our programs, products and services. See Terms of Use and Privacy. This giveaway is subject to the Official Giveaway Rules. Resources Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick, with Jackie Moran — A Star in the East (Amazon) Ronn McFarlane (official site) Carolyn Surrick (official site)
On the April 16th Friday LIVE, host Genevieve Randal and guests have lively conversations about: Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick's performance (01:18); Grace Bauer’s new book (10:20); "Black Voices in a Time of Change" hosted by Kwame Dawes (21:35); Nebraska Brass and Nebraska Jazz Orchestra concerts, and the Thursday and Friday night music series, all presented by Arts Incorporated (36:00); Yorkshire Playhouse's presentation of "The New Kid on the Block" (43:39); Nebraska Grown Arts Festival (49:45); and, the UNL Wind Ensemble's concert featuring Nolan Schmit's new work (55:38). Also, poetry by Saddiq Dzukogi (31:47), and KVNO's Corbin Hirschhorn tells us about Vesper Concerts next concert (01:03:58).
On the April 16th Friday LIVE, host Genevieve Randal and guests have lively conversations about: Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick's performance (01:18); Grace Bauer’s new book (10:20); "Black Voices in a Time of Change" hosted by Kwame Dawes (21:35); Nebraska Brass and Nebraska Jazz Orchestra concerts, and the Thursday and Friday night music series, all presented by Arts Incorporated (36:00); Yorkshire Playhouse's presentation of "The New Kid on the Block" (43:39); Nebraska Grown Arts Festival (49:45); and, the UNL Wind Ensemble's concert featuring Nolan Schmit's new work (55:38). Also, poetry by Saddiq Dzukogi (31:47), and KVNO's Corbin Hirschhorn tells us about Vesper Concerts next concert (01:03:58).
Viola da gambist Carolyn Surrick and lutenist Ronn McFarlane talk about their new recording Fermi's Paradox, a project born of the pandemic, when both artists saw their live performances cancelled. This beautifully eclectic album contains new compositions and arrangements for the duo, including the title track – Ronn McFarlane's meditation on the famous question posed by Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi: if the probability of intelligent extraterrestrial life is so high, then where is everybody?
NPR Music's picks for the week's best new albums includes the debut, studio full-length from rapper Megan Thee Stallion, the first all-Spanish album from Kali Uchis, U.K. dub artist The Bug and more.Featured Albums:1. Megan Thee Stallion — Good NewsFeatured Song: "Savage Remix"2. Mamalarky — MamalarkyFeatured Song: "Drug Store Model"3. The Bug (feat. Dis Fig) — In BlueFeatured Song: "Take"4. Kali Uchis — Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios)Featured Song: "La Luna" and "te pongo mal"5. Partner — Never Give UpFeatured Song: "Honey"6. Shygirl — ALIASFeatured Song: "Twelve"7. Grandaddy — The Sophtware Slump 20th Anniversary EditionFeatured Song: "Jed's Other Poem" (solo piano version)8. Visionaries — VFeatured Song: "Put It Together"Other notable releases for Nov. 20: 5 Billion In Diamonds — Divine Accidents; Anna McClellan – I Saw First Light; Ida Mae — Raining For You; Neil Young — Archives Vol. II (1972-1976); Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick — Fermi's Paradox; Tayla Parx — Coping Mechanisms; Tank and the Bangas — Friend Goals; War on Drugs — Drugs Live.
American lutenist, composer and teacher Ronn McFarlane has been active nationally and internationally for over 40 years, both as a soloist and as a collaborator with other instrumentalists.
Ronn McFarlane is one of the most acclaimed masters of a very old instrument – the lute. He’s a Grammy-nominated musician and was a founding member of the Baltimore Consort. He’s also a founder of folk trio Ayreheart and has worked with many other great early music groups in the United States and around the world. Alongside fellow lutenist Paul O'Dette, McFarlane will perform tomorrow night in a program titled For Two Lutes: Virtuoso Duets from Italy and England. The concert is at 8:00 at Towson University's Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall. It’s part of the series sponsored by the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society. Get more information here.Ronn McFarlane joins Tom in Studio A.
You're in for a cool show this weekend where you'll get down with a few uncommon instruments! The Dulcimer, Ukulele, & Lute. Check out indepth interviews with Bruce Hornsby, Jake Shimabukuro, & Ronn McFarlane.
It's all about those strings this weekend on The Mulberry Lane Show. Featuring interviews with multiple Grammy winner Bruce Hornsby who talks about his most recent album "Rehab Reunion" -- all songs he wrote on the dulcimer. Then, it's Jake Shimabukuro who will tell you about Nashville Sessions, songs he wrote on the ukulele. Finally, it's Grammy nominated lute player Ronn McFarlane, whose passion is merging both the classic Renaissance lute tunes with the contemporary.
The lute enjoyed its greatest popularity from the late 15th through late 17th centuries, when many people played the instrument and composed music for it. But thanks to a handful of masterful contemporary lutenists, such as Ronn McFarlane, the instrument continues to thrive in the 21st century. Suzanne spoke with the versatile musician about the lute's history, and his passion for the instrument and its varied repertory.
Grammy-nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane is joined by flutist Mindy Rosenfeld, a founding member of the Baltimore Consort, in a concert featuring period flutes, lutes, fife, harp, and bagpipes. Recorded On: Saturday, September 21, 2013
Ronn McFarlane and Mark Cudek are among the most sought-after performers specializing in baroque and early music. The founding members of the Baltimore Consort spoke with Suzanne about their trio with Mindy Rosenfeld -- Gut, Wind and Wire. They explained the inside scoop on the group's name, talked about some of the unusual instruments they play, and revealed of their surprising and diverse musical tastes.
This week, an ancient instrument serves as the muse for new music.
A continuation of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra’s commissions of new works inspired by the Brandenburg concertos of J.S. Bach, American lutenist Ronn McFarlane joins us to talk about his compositions, and the Dunedin Consort & Players are featured in a release of Bach’s B minor Mass.
The music of Ronn McFarlane, Andreas Kapsalis and Goran Ivanovic, Bill Cooley