Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
It seemed fitting that ORAN included the Ian Tyson song "Four Strong inds" in their program last night because one strong gust of wind threatened to give them problems with their sound system . Luckily, less than perfect climatic conditions did not affect the quality of their performance as they presented a solid hour of beautiful singing, presenting a wide rang of folk songs from their extensive repertoire.
No matter what the origin the theme or the mood, each number was performed superbly by Oran. They are what all good singing groups should be, individually strong musicians whose voices blend beautifully.This was certainly apparent when they performed a Capella the delightful Irish ditty Colcannon. Without the support of the two guitars and accordion the pure voices produced a wonderfully rich sound and each word was crystal clear. In fact Oran's diction is exemplary. A folk song by its very definition tells a story and often the words are as important as the melody. We certainly didn't miss many of Oran's words and thus were able to hear musical tales of men leaving hearth and home for far away shores or happy farmers celebrating the harvest.
Thanks to Oran's commitment to folk music the audience at last night's concert were able to travel, in imaginative ways, far from the banks of the St. John River to places like Loch Tay or Cape Breton.
Oran's music can be haunting and evocative. I can also be funny. I particularly liked Doug Carter's original composition, which he called Jock or Angus. Doug is the founder and leader of Oran and proved last night that he has a penchant for song writing.
As I left the concert last night, humming snatches of a melody which Oran sang beautifully, my favourite, Song for the Mira, I overheard a visitor say, "gosh, people who live in Fredericton are lucky to have music like that." I couldn't agree more. - The Daily Gleaner
Discography
Folk Songs of Scotland
Common Folks Digest
For Kith and Kin
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Ask any follower of Folk music in New Brunswick what the word ORAN means and you will inevitability hear “great music” and “great entertainment.”
Taking their name from the Scots Gaelic word for song, ORAN was formed in 1983. The group’s early success was met by invitations to attend many of the Maritimes’ most popular music festivals and gatherings which included the Festival-by-the-Sea Canada Summer Games arts venue, the Lunenburg and Miramichi Folk Festivals as well as appearing twice at the internationally renown Indian River Concert series in Burlington Prince Edward Island. They have appeared nationally on Vision TV as well as the CBC and ATV's Maritime show "Up Home Tonight." Looking back over their many years of performing, they have seen many members come and go and have been blessed to have seen so many talented musicians offer their services in performance and stage.
The original group of female vocalists Geri Carter, Ardith Kerr, Helen McKinnon, Christine Murray and sisters Mary Anne and Margaret van Oostwaard as well as male vocalists and instrumentalists Doug Carter (guitar), Doug Gallant (guitar and mandolin) and Brian Paige (bass guitar), performed and recorded two albums; Folk Songs of Scotland 1984 and Common Folks Digest 1987, a compendium of modern and traditional material which radios station WGBH in Boston called “a refreshing interpretation of Celtic music.” . In 1989 they participated in a project by Mr. Kevin Herring under the auspices of a Canada Council Grant, recording six Gaelic songs, one of which being one of the few Gaelic song written in New Brunswick by Mrs Lloyd Leland and Mr. Ivan Downey.
The recording has since been deposited in the National Archives of Canada.
With the departure of Ms. Murray and Mr. Paige in the late 80s a new and larger ensemble of musicians followed, bringing the group’s membership to nine with the addition of Jane Ogilvie on harp and accordion, Carolyn Holyoke on keyboards and Laurence Wall on cello which led to their most successful recording, "For Kith and Kin" in 1991 which received extensive air play in Florida and Boston as well the CBC.
In 1994 the group again saw changes, seeing it return to most of its original grouping which has seen them carry on to the present day performing their varied repertoire of both modern and traditional folk music to audiences of all age groups
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