Legends of the Celtic Harp to put on “The Door Between the Worlds” in Davis.
In medieval times, people often spent many nights around a campfire telling magical myths and legends of heroes defeating dragons and people achieving greatness. A trio of Celtic harpists comprised of Patrick Ball, an alumnus of UC Davis, Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter are attempting to harken back to this ancient tradition of storytelling with their show, entitled “The Door Between the Worlds.”
The trio has toured extensively throughout the United States and on Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. they will be bringing their show to the Unitarian Universalist Church at 27074 Patwin Rd.
The show tells the story of the two Celtic worlds: the “Other” world and the world in which we live.
“The Celtic have a strong belief that there are two worlds: our world that we see touch and taste, and another world call the ‘Other’ world,” Ball said. “There are certain times of the year, including Halloween, when doors open between the worlds where one can cross over. All sorts of marvelous things happen when the two intermingle.”
Ball credited his time studying history here as an important factor leading up to his love of the Celtic harp and traditional storytelling.
“My favorite professor had the capacity to interest you in his lecture,” Ball said. “[During his lectures] I always had a strong feeling that I could step into the past. He feels that instruments can have a similar effect. “When I play the harp, [I feel like] it lures and guides you into the past.”
All three of the performers came upon the harp at a renaissance fair in Southern California, fell in love with it and taught themselves to play. However, all three of the performers came from a variety of backgrounds. Lisa Lynne was a bass player in a heavy metal band before falling in love with the harp.
“I was enchanted by the harp,” Lynne said. “Most people think of the harp as a classical instrument but I brought my harp into my heavy metal band and was able to play the last encore song with [it]. I saw people freeze at the beauty and surprise of the song.”
Frankfurter plays not only the Celtic harp but also the Swedish nycolharpa, an obscure instrument that lends its sound well to the storytelling effect that the harpers want to achieve.
“It gives off a resonance and ethereal quality that is very haunting and intrigues a lot of people,” Frankfurter said.
Frankfurter, along with Lynne and Ball, believe that people will leave the show feeling enriched and mystified.
“Music and stories are universal and not bound to a certain culture,” Frankfurter said. “When people disconnect from their roots, they can get a little troubled, and when they’re reminded of these universal elements [that we can all relate to] like music, it’s comforting and nourishing. They feel reminded of something held subconsciously — something special about the world we don’t notice in everyday life. It takes on more color and reminds people that the world is a special and magical place.”
Tickets can be bought online. For more information on the show, please visit this link.
