Event
Patrick Ball, Celtic Harp & Story
Patrick Ball was born and raised in California, studied music and over the years developed a nodding acquaintance with the piano and guitar. In college he continued his flirtatious relationship with music playing the tin whistle. At this time he was irresistibly drawn to the word and to the music of words, particularly to writers from Ireland and the lyrical, turbulent history of Ireland. After enrolling in graduate school, he soon made his way to Ireland where he fell in love with the Celtic harp and the eloquence and fire of the Irish oral tradition. A fusion of Irish words, music and history became his passion and, eventually, his livelihood.
On returning to California, the Dominican College awarded Patrick a Master's Degree in History. With jobs in his field scarce, he spent two years as groundskeeper at Penland School of Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Among the Appalachian storytellers, his love of the spoken word was rekindled.
He now tours extensively throughout the United States and Canada, is considered one of the premier Celtic harpists and storytellers in the world, and has recorded nine instrumental and three spoken word albums which have sold well over one-half million copies collectively.
The Zellerbach Family Fund and the California Arts Council awarded grants to Patrick and he received the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Association.
The harp is a truly ancient instrument, with a history spanning almost 5,000 years. It has been used in Ireland for well over 1,000 years, surviving periodic doldrums of persecution and social upheaval. The harp that Patrick plays is a splendid recreation of that legendary Celtic instrument made by the master harp builder Jay Witcher of Maine. One thousand years ago, Irish musicians played magnificent harps strung with solid brass. They played with their fingernails to bring out that crystalline, yet deeply resonant quality which their poets likened to the pealing of bells. As an ethnomusicologist and musicologist, Patrick will includes Early Music of Ireland in his performance .
When, two hundreds years ago, the last remnants of Gaelic Ireland were disappearing, the harpist ceased to play with their fingernails and abandoned their brass strung harps; the sound of an entire culture was silenced and a musical epoch was ended.
The harp that Patrick plays is a splendid recreation of that legendary Celtic instrument.
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LocationSt. John's Church
80 Mt. Auburn Street
Watertown, MA 02172
United States
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| Kid Friendly: No |
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