Music
Ronn McFarlane founded Ayreheart in the wake of his Grammy nomination for the album Indigo Road, consisting of his original works for lute.
Indigo Road forms the core of Ayreheart’s original instrumental music in live shows. One Morning formally introduced Ayreheart as a group. Now filled out by bass and drums team, the fretless bass provides an expressive foundation paired with an array percussion instruments. With Barley Moon, Ayreheart explores the intersection of folk and art music in Renaissance England, Scotland and Wales. Vocals and instrumentals intertwine at the borderline between the folk and art music of the Renaissance.
Albums
Barley Moon
Released June 24, 2016
Barley Moon is comprised of Renaissance music and old traditional folk songs, showcasing the surprising parallels between high art music and folk music. Inspired by the British Folk Rock Movent of the '60s and bands like Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Pentangle, the Incredible String Band, and their many cohorts, Ayeheart similarly seeks to introduce new audiences to traditional music. The title track, John Barleycorn, was introduced to popular music scene by Steve Winwood and Traffic on the 1970 album, John Barleycorn Must Die. Barley Moon continues this tradition with contemporary arrangements of other traditional tunes, such as Twa Corbies and Nottamun Town.
Track List
- John Barleycorn
- In a Garden So Green
- Mr. Dowland's Midnight
- Fortune My Foe
- Lady Hunsdon's Puffe
- Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Now Invite
- Henry Martin
- Lully lulle
- Solus cum sola
- Mr. George Whitehead His Almand
- Twa Corbies
- The Woods So Wild
- Ddoi Di Dai
- Nottamun Town
One Morning
Released May 15, 2009
Ronn McFarlane is largely responsible for bringing the transcendent charm and timeless quality of the lute into the musical mainstream and making it accessible to a larger audience. For One Morning, he is joined by an amazing new group, Ayreheart, composed of flute, harp, bass, percussion, and vocals, as well as backing by string and choral ensembles. The songs with vocals truly harken to the days of Dowland, with Ronn functioning as the composer, lutenist, and lyricist. Having been nominated for a GRAMMY® award for Indigo Road in the category of Best Classical Crossover album, Ronn continues to blur the lines between genres, creating a musical experience for all music lovers to enjoy. The lyrics to the title track describe it best: 'One morning, one morning in the sunshine you'll arise, realize it's a new day. Eyes awaken, dawn is breaking. One morning, one morning in the sunlight breathe the air, everywhere, in the morning light. It's a new day.'
Track List
- One Morning
- Borderland
- Snapdragon
- A Day in November
- Wolf Summit
- Union Bridge
- Bad Hair Day
- Dakota Days
- Before the Wind
- Man of Arms
- Nocturne
- On the Heath: Thistle
- On the Heath: Honeysuckle
- On the Heath: Haeddre
- Sings in Her Sleep
- Lullaby for Anne
- One Morning (full band version)
Indigo Road
Released November 1, 2007
Historically the lute player and the composer of lute music were one and the same. Ronn McFarlane has returned to that time, with this dazzling and beautiful recording of his own compositions for the lute. He has made a recording of very accessible music as his stays true to the title song, Indigo Road, which signifies a spiritual path we all take through life. The pieces take the listener down aural roads from one composition to the next. We are transported to the future through dreams and left feeling wistful and nostalgic as if remembering the distant past.
Track List
- Cathedral Cave
- Indigo Road
- Denali
- Overland
- Pinetops
- Blue Norther
- Chocolate Factory
- Rosa
- Uncharted Waters
- Sycamore
- Dowland's Goodnight
- Early Christmas Morning
- Gigue
- Thistleheart
- Over the Green Earth
- Augusta
