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Clannad Bio
Clannad Bio
Clannad
Clannad
The five original Clannad members together at a rare appearance at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards in Dublin, 1 February 2007 to collect their
Lifetime Achievement Award. L-r Noel, Pól, Moya, Ciarán and Pádraig.
Background information
Members
Past members
Clannad are an Irish musical group, from Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal.[1] Their music has been variously
described as bordering on folk and folk rock, Irish, Celtic and New Age, often incorporating elements of an even
broader spectrum of smooth jazz and Gregorian chant.[2] They are known for performing in various languages,
including English, Latin, Gàidhlig, Mohican and most of all in their native tongue, Irish.[3] They have won several
notable awards throughout their career, including a Grammy Award.[4]
Clannad comprises siblings Moya Brennan (Irish: Máire Ní Bhraonáin), Ciarán Brennan (Irish: Ciarán Ó Braonáin),
Pól Brennan (Irish: Pól Ó Braonáin, who left in 1990 and rejoined in 2011) and their twin uncles Noel Duggan
(Irish: Noel Ó Dúgáin) and Pádraig Duggan (Irish: Pádraig Ó Dúgáin). Sibling Enya (Irish: Eithne Ní Bhraonáin)
left the group in 1981 to pursue a solo career.
Clannad first made their mark in the folk and traditional scene in the 1970s in Ireland and mainland Europe. They
subsequently went on to bridge the gap between traditional Celtic music and pop music in the 1980s and 1990s with
albums such as Macalla and Anam.[5] [6] During their career they toured the world extensively and gained fans in
Clannad 2
every major territory. Lead singer Moya Brennan and her sister Enya have also enjoyed significant success as solo
artists. The band won a Grammy Award in 1999 for Best New Age Album, and their record sales exceed the 15
million mark.[7] They are also widely regarded as the band which, for the first time, put Irish traditional music and
the Irish language on the world stage and paved the way for many other Irish artists.[8]
Ten years after "taking a break",[9] the five original members of Clannad reunited on stage at the Celtic Connections
Festival in February 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland. Moya, Ciarán, Noel and Pádraig embarked on their first UK tour in
over 10 years in March 2008, starting in Gateshead.[10] In 2009, the band's Pádraig Duggan announced that the band
were recording a new album.[9]
Early years
Musical upbringing
Siblings Ciarán, Pól, and Máire Uí Bhraonáin (Brennan) and their two uncles Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin (Duggan)
grew up in Gaoth Dobhair, a rural village in County Donegal, Ireland. The Brennans' mother, Baba, was a music
teacher, and their father, Leo, was a former member of a cabaret band. Leo was travelling extensively in the early
family years. Later, they bought a pub with a stage called Leo's Tavern (Tábhairne Leo). The children would
occasionally do cover versions of Beatles, Beach Boys and Joni Mitchell songs at home and in their family pub.
The children were performing late at night in the pub (the story was recounted by Máire, TG4, 17 March 2007,
Clann as Dobhar & Clannad Beo) when the local police sergeant walked in. They feared a summons, but instead the
policemen had a form to enter a local music competition. They didn't have a name at the time, but had to find one for
the competition. Someone suggested Clann As Dobhar (Gaeilge for "the family from Dore"), which was
provisionally blended into Clannad in 1973.[11]
The young Brennans' and Duggans' passion for the traditional music of Ireland soon expanded beyond their native
Gweedore. They would later visit such outlying communities as Tory Island off Donegal's coast. Armed with some
500 Gaelic songs, they would later begin to arrange these songs for a full band.[12]
Traditional years
Clannad entered a local folk festival in Letterkenny, County Donegal, and won first prize, a record contract with the
Irish arm of Phillips, when they were still in college and school. They did not make the record until 1973 because the
record company did not like the idea of them doing half the album in Irish, as it was not heard of to sing Irish in
mainstream music.
The first album was recorded in 1973, simply called Clannad, and it showed a band aware of contemporary Irish
music of the day. There were hints of modern influences, most notably Pentangle's, in songs such as "The Pretty
Maid" and "Morning Dew", but it was the Irish songs, particular an early arrangement of "Níl Sé Ina Lá", a drinking
song they found on one of their Tory Island expeditions, that really showed the band's ability to form contemporary,
jazz-influenced versions of traditional material. This album was also released under the name The Pretty Maid. One
of the tracks, "An Pháirc", was performed by Clannad in the 1973 Irish heat of the Eurovision Song Contest. The
second album followed in 1975 on Gael-Linn records and was titled Clannad 2. Produced by Planxty and Bothy
Band founder Dónal Lunny, it showed a tremendously more mature band that was quite committed to singing mainly
in Irish. Their arrangements were still experimental for the times, but their increasing skill in the use of traditional
acoustic instruments kept the music well within the boundaries of folk music. Clannad 2 featured some
ground-breaking traditional music, including Máire's harp playing on the O'Carolan song "Eleanor Plunkett" and
ensemble work on songs like "Rince Briotánach" and "Teidhir Abhaile Riú", an Irish matchmaking song.
The following year they produced Dúlamán. The title track was a song about two dúlamán, or seaweed merchants,
one of whom is trying to win the hand of the other's beautiful daughter. It has been a favourite of Clannad's live
shows for a very long time and is still performed in a rock version which captures the flavour of the original recorded
Clannad 3
acoustic version.
The band in 1976 still consisted of Máire on lead vocals and harp, Ciarán on double bass, electric piano and vocals,
Pól on flutes, guitars and bongos, Noel on guitar, vocals and Pádraig on mandolin, guitar and vocals. They still kept
the Gaelic spelling of their surnames of Ó Braonáin for the brothers, Ní Bhraonáin for Máire and Ó Dúgáin for
Pádraig and Noel. During their first tour of Europe in 1976 a standing ovation after an eight-minute version of "Níl
Sé Ina Lá" convinced them to become full time professionals.[13] The band's next album was Crann Úll (Irish for
apple tree) released in 1978 on Tara Records. It featured a stronger emphasis on Máire's harp-playing. "Ar a
Ghabháil 'n a 'Chuain Domh" featured a particularly full band arrangement reflective of their live jams at the time.
"Lá Cuimhthíoch Fán dTuath" ("A Strange Day in the Countryside") showed the first hints of the more atmospheric
side of the band's arrangements. On "Gathering Mushrooms" they included their sister Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (now
known as Enya) on supporting vocals.
Clannad in Concert was released in 1979, featuring excerpts from their 1978 Swiss tour and a now world-famous
version of "Down by the Sally Gardens" and a 10-minute version of "Níl Sé Ina Lá". It served as a base for various
solos by the individual members. The year 1979 also saw a 36-concert North American tour — the most extensive
ever undertaken by an Irish group to date.[14] In 1981 with the album Fuaim (pronounced foom, meaning sound),
recorded in Dublin's famed Windmill Studios, Clannad began to experiment with a more lush and electric sound.
Enya became, for a short time, a full member of the band, adding keyboards and harmony vocals as well as lead
vocals on two songs, "An tÚll" and "Buaireadh an Phósta". This album marked Clannad's first experiments with
synthesiser. It also had guest Neil Buckley on clarinet and saxophones plus a percussionist and electric piano. The
following year Enya left to pursue her solo career and the band was about to record the album which would forever
change their career as well as their sound, Magical Ring which appeared in 1982.
Chart success
on their official web site that "there were several other pieces of music recorded for the 3rd series of Robin of
Sherwood that were not included on the Legend album. Unfortunately no-one has been able to locate the master tapes
of this music. The search is continuing and hopefully one day these recordings will be able to be released."[17]
Macalla (echo in Irish) was released in 1985, Clannad's next proper album. It contained all original material except
one traditional song and yielded the group a hit single "In a Lifetime", a duet with U2's Bono (which begins with
Máire being heard teaching Gaelic to Bono during the instrumental intro).[18] The album featured the core quintet
plus a large number of backing musicians who have continued to tour with them, including ex-King Crimson
saxophonist Mel Collins, Moving Hearts' guitarist Anton Drennan and drummer Paul Moran. Also on board was
producer Steve Nye, whose previous charges included the Penguin Café Orchestra and David Sylvian. The album
opens with the song "Caisleán Óir". In "Buachaill Ón Éirne" they covered a traditional Irish song from their native
Donegal. It was the first time ever such a song featured on a chart-topping commercial album, something Clannad
went on to pioneer in. When Macalla was released, the listening public began to be more accepting of the
mainstream material that appeared heavily on the record. Songs such as the pop-flavoured "Closer to Your Heart"
and the powerful ballad "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)" were successful singles for the quintet. The latter even
served as the official Children in Need single for 1985.
The following album, Sirius, was released by RCA in 1988 and was recorded in Los Angeles with rock producers
Greg Ladanyi and Russ Kunkel (James Taylor's drummer). The album included a duet with Bruce Hornsby and guest
appearances by Steve Perry and J.D. Souther. The title track was Pól Brennan's encouraging call to the
environmental movement, and to the Greenpeace ship of the same name. "Something to Believe In" featured the
voice and keyboards of Bruce Hornsby. Completed with the help of some of the biggest names on the Californian
rock scene, Sirius was another different creation, just like their previous 3 albums. Received with critical
apprehension, Sirius was initially, stoutly defended by the band as a change, but since then members have expressed
their disappointment with the album and even Pól Brennan apologised on its behalf. The following year they
embarked on their first world tour.
Between 1988 and 1991 there were some side projects for the band, including Atlantic Realm (1989) and The Angel
and the Soldier Boy (1990). Atlantic Realm was a small album made for a BBC documentary about the Atlantic
Ocean. The recording was mainly instrumental as their voices as instruments. The Angel and the Soldier Boy was a
half hour animation, without voice overs and the music told the story. Both albums proved to be a minor success, and
also demonstrated once again that Clannad were one of the most acclaimed soundtrack artists in the music industry.
Two greatest hits albums were released at around this time:
• Past Present RCA, which to date is the only "greatest hits" compilation so far by the band to include any new
tracks: "The Hunter" (a reworking of the song "Herne", which appears on their 1984 album Legend) and "World
of Difference". This album also included tracks from Magical Ring, Macalla, and Sirius.
• The Collection k-Tel, re-released in 1996 under the label's Celtic Collections series. Unlike Past Present however,
it also included five earlier tracks from their more traditional Irish period.
Pól Brennan initially left the group to pursue a solo career and work with the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and
Dance) organization in Britain. He released a trio album in 1993 with Guo Yue and Joji Hirota under the new name
Trísan. The true reason for Pól's departure is unknown; being a family band, very little information is released about
personal and professional relations about and between the members. Pól will rejoin the band in January 2011, when
Clannad perform at Temple Bar TradFest. Initially a single concert, it was extended with an extra two nights in
December 2010.[19]
Clannad 5
Musical style
When Clannad first started out in the early 1970s their music and sound stemmed solely from their traditional
background. Despite this they managed to popularise such old songs as "Dúlamán", "Teidhir Abhaile Riú" and
"Coinleach Glas An Fhómhair", and these songs have remained popular numbers at their concerts. On the departure
from their folk and traditional background in 1982, they created a new sound that would define the meaning of New
Age and Celtic music forever. When "Theme from Harry's Game" and "Newgrange" were first heard, radio stations
all over the world became fascinated by the earthly and spiritual sound that they had never encountered before.[27]
One critic said "the tunes were seeped in the old ways, but the production and the arrangement was fresh and
inventive". This transition in Clannad's career is often seen as the birth of Celtic music, and to this day they are
regarded as the pioneers of that genre. They are also noted for their melodious harmonies, which have been at the
heart of their music since their first album. Legend (1984) was based on English folklore. With later albums, Clannad
delved further into the realms of electronica and even pop. Due to this, many of their singles entered pop charts all
over the world, and widened their fan base once again. Despite their success with this genre of music, the group
managed to maintain a link with their Gaelic roots throughout their career, giving traditional Irish songs such as
"Tráthnóna Beag Aréir" and "Buachaill Ón Éirne" the Clannad treatment.
Even though the rock-infused Sirius and the pop-inclined Macalla have become huge successes for Clannad, it was
their breakthrough style that they created themselves that has left the greatest legacy. One of the places where
Clannad's influence can be seen is in the film Titanic, where James Horner admitted to basing the soundtrack on
Clannad's style.[28] The soundtrack was so like Clannad's work that it has been incorrectly credited to them for many
years.[29] Clannad's 'Celtic mysticism' is a recurring theme in the film Intermission.[30] The "otherworldly" and
"ethereal" Clannad sound comes from the ancient hills and glens that surround Gweedore, according to lead singer
Moya Brennan. Also, when asked to describe the group's style, Ciarán said, "There's a feeling in all our music an
ambience that stems directly from where we were brought up and to have to define our sound I always say that if
they were to visit Gweedore they wouldn't need to ask."[31] Traces of Clannad's legacy can be heard in the music of
many artists, including Enya, Altan, Capercaillie, The Corrs, Loreena McKennitt, Anúna, Riverdance, Órla Fallon
and U2.[32] [33]
Private lives
Band members
The private life of lead member Moya was detailed in her autobiography in 2000. In it, Brennan recalls her
upbringing as the eldest of nine siblings in rural County Donegal, Ireland. Along with the highs of success in the
music business, she also recounts low periods where alcohol, drugs and an abortion made her reevaluate her life. She
emerged from dark years as a committed Christian with rekindled faith. She remarried in 1991 (having previously
been married to a Dublin musician) and now resides in Dublin with her husband, photographer Tim Jarvis, and
children, Aisling and Paul.[34]
Clannad 8
Discography
Studio albums:
• 1973: Clannad
• 1975: Clannad 2
• 1976: Dúlamán
• 1980: Crann Ull
• 1982: Fuaim
• 1983: Magical Ring
• 1984: Legend
• 1985: Macalla
• 1987: Sirius
• 1988: Atlantic Realm
• 1989: The Angel and the Soldier Boy
• 1990: Anam
• 1993: Banba
• 1996: Lore
• 1998: Landmarks
Clannad 9
Videography:
• 1989 – Past Present
Bibliography
• 1989 – Past Present
Sheet music book for 'Past Present'
• 2001 – The Other Side of the Rainbow, Máire Brennan with Angela Little
Later subtitled: The Autobiography of the Voice of Clannad
Notable awards
Won
1. 1982 – 1982 Ivor Novello Awards, Best Soundtrack for "Theme From Harry's Game"
2. 1984 – 1984 BAFTA Awards, Best Television Music for "Robin of Sherwood"
3. 1992 – Billboard Music Award, World Music Song of the Year for "Rí na Cruinne"
4. 1999 – Grammy Awards of 1999, Best New Age Album for "Landmarks"
5. 2007 – Meteor Music Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominated
1. 1982 – 1982 BAFTA Awards, Best Television Music for "Harry's Game"
2. 1994 – Grammy Awards of 1994, Best New Age Album for "Banba"
3. 1996 – Grammy Awards of 1996, Best New Age Album for "Lore"
4. 2009 – Ireland's Music Awards, Best Revival Act
References
[1] Clannad — ( 124 Lyrics + 16 Albums ) (http:/ / www. lyricsfreak. com/ c/ clannad/ )
[2] http:/ / www. rollingstone. com/ artists/ clannad/ albums/ album/ 131987/ review/ 5943745/ macalla
[3] Clannad lyrics, music, biography, records, band, album, videos, CD, and the discography including Clannad famous works (http:/ / www.
musicianguide. com/ biographies/ 1608002158/ Clannad. html/ )
[4] http:/ / www. mdm. ie/ artists/ clannad. html
[5] Clannad MP3 Downloads - Clannad Music Downloads - Clannad Music Videos - Clannad Pictures - MP3.com (http:/ / www. mp3. com/
artist/ clannad/ summary/ )
[6] Usually, their results were an entrancing, enchanting form of pop that managed to fuse the disparate elements together rather seamlessly.
(http:/ / www. billboard. com/ bbcom/ esearch/ searchResult. jsp?configType=BBCOM_SIMPLEDEFAULT& pubList=Billboard&
an=bbcom& action=Submit& kw=& exposeNavigation=true& keyword=Clannad& searchType=ARTICLE_SEARCH& submit. x=32&
submit. y=13)
[7] http:/ / www. clannad. org. uk/ library/ jamesline_biography. pdf
[8] The Austin Chronicle: Music: Review - Chieftains, Clannad (http:/ / www. austinchronicle. com/ gyrobase/ Issue/ review?oid=oid:95426)
[9] New Clannad album (http:/ / www. clannad. org. uk/ 2009/ 02/ new-clannad-album/ )
[10] Kennedy Street - Clannad (http:/ / www. noblepr. co. uk/ Press_Releases/ kennedy_street/ clannad. htm)
[11] http:/ / www. faqs. org/ faqs/ music/ enya-faq/
Clannad 10
External links
• The Official Clannad Website (http://www.clannad.ie/)
• Northern Skyline (http://www.clannad.org.uk/) Up to date News source
• The Clannad Newsblog (http://www.clannad.nl/)
Article Sources and Contributors 11
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
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