`Celtic' connections
Oklahoma-based Irish composer Brian Byrne writes music for new dance show
For Brian Byrne, a series of unlikely coincidences form the winding path that led to him working on the new production “Celtic Throne — The Royal Journey of Irish Dance.”
“It's very strange that there's an Irish dance troupe in the middle of Oklahoma ... and I'm an Irishman living in Oklahoma,” Byrne said.
“I loved the coincidence of that. I love the fact that I'm an honorary Oklahoman now, and I just thought it was so bizarre that there was an Irish dance troupe looking for Irish music in Oklahoma — and it worked out.”
The Golden Globenominated composer, who is based in Purcell, created the score for the new production from Herbert W. Armstrong College and Armstrong Dance. The latter is a troupe of more than 30 Irish dancers ranging in age from 4 to 22, who hail from around the world, including Britain, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Composed of students from the Carey Academy in England and the Maguire Academy in America, the troupe debuted “Celtic Throne” for a sell-out crowd June 28 at Edmond's Armstrong Auditorium, with additional performances
planned for Sunday and Tuesday. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the venue is following state health guidelines for the shows, according to a news release, as well as offering virtual tickets to a live-stream presentation of Sunday's performance.
“I love writing Irish music. It's where I'm from, and I'm just very proud of that sound,” Byrne said. “I'm delighted that my music is getting played in Oklahoma. It's a real trip, and I'm delighted to work with local artists.”
Wide open spaces
In 2003, Byrne moved from his native Ireland to Los Angeles to develop his career as a film and television composer. He has worked as a composer, conductor, arranger, songwriter, producer and pianist on a wide range of projects, including the Amazon series “Modern Love” and the movies “Sex and the City 2,” “In America” and “A Most Violent Year.” He earned a Golden Globe nod for writing the music to the song “Lay Your Head Down” for the 2011 period drama “Albert Nobbs”; he shared the nomination with Glenn Close, who not only penned the lyrics but also garnered Golden Globe and Oscar nods for playing the lead role.
Byrne's wife, lyricist Kasey Jones, is a Paoli native who also relocated to L.A. in 2003. They wed in Oklahoma in 2006 but continued to live in Los Angeles until three years ago, when they settled in Purcell.
“With the internet and everything, especially with Skype and being able to do meetings online, I can really work anywhere in the world. ... The writing process I'm in a small studio room, and usually at the end of the process, I'd go to Europe or I'd go to Los Angeles to record an orchestra or live musicians in a room,” Byrne said.
“We have two kids, and we just wanted a little more space and bought a house in Oklahoma. ... We love it here.”
Irish origins
Along with collaborating with the likes of Bono, Josh Groban and Sarah McLachlan, Byrne also composed the music for “Heartland of Home,” a
stage show from the producers of “Riverdance.” The dance extravaganza that toured North American and China, aired on PBS and landed on the West End in London, where it was seen by Armstrong Dance members.
“They were at the show in London, and one of their choreographers, I believe, is an ex-'Riverdance' dancer. And she literally emailed me out of the blue and said, `We are in Oklahoma, we love your music, would you be interested in writing a show for us?'” Byrne said.
Although he is now a U.S.
citizen, Byrne said he often gets the chance to write Irish music.
“It just keeps coming back to me, kind of like the gift that keeps on giving. I'm a film composer and I'm a jazz musician and I produce records. I've written for Barbra Streisand and Kelly Clarkson, and I've worked with Pink and Katy Perry — a lot of people that are nonIrish. My film projects, some of them are from Ireland, but a lot of them are L.A. or U.K. But I keep getting asked to write Irish music,” he said.
“It's in my DNA, and I love doing it because it's such joyous music — even the sad music, there's a joy.”
Oklahoma opportunities
Between his work on “Celtic Throne” and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Byrne said he has been inspired to dig deeper roots in Oklahoma.
“I'm a composer, so I've been self-quarantined for 25 years,” he joked. “But obviously there are travel restrictions, and we can't fly for safety reasons. ... I'm actually in the process of building a big studio out the back of my house right now. I'm hoping to be able to employ local musicians from Oklahoma for my film scores.”
He said he hopes to complete the home studio in the next few weeks and recruit Oklahoma musicians to record the music he is composing for “The Laureate,” a U.K. film about poet laureate Robert Graves.
“There's wonderful musicians here ... and since I'm living here, if I can bring projects here or maybe even do concerts here, then it'll be fun. It's my new, adopted home ... so I may as well try a little harder to integrate into the community.”