Patrick Ball’s Celtic Solstice presentation, The Christmas Rose, is an elegant and relaxing way to celebrate this year’s longest night with familiar and original songs, storytelling and nods to WB Yeats, Kenneth Grahame, Dylan Thomas, Shakespeare and others. Portland Folk Song Society wraps up their concert year with this special Yule evening for all ages. Friday December 21 is a most propitious day this year and an evening of heartfelt, hopeful music is the perfect way to find space in the busy-ness.
Celebrate the Winter Solstice evening with Patrick Ball’s Celtic “Christmas Rose” presented by Portland FolkSong Society at Carvlin Hall Friday December 21. Doors at 7 and music at 7:30 pm. The hall is located next to St. Philip Neri Church at 16th and SE Division.
Gifted harper and storyteller Ball draws inspiration from Celtic tales and musical traditions. The legendary brass-strung harp of Ireland he plays has a crystalline, bell-like voice and his tales of wit and enchantment move worlds within worlds of meaning and detail.
This two-hour concert is a blend of familiar and original tunes, spoken word pieces drawn from A Child’s Christmas in Wales and The Wind in the Willows, with glimpses of Shakespeare, William Butler Yeats, and Thomas Hardy, among others.
Ball says “All of the stories and the music touch on what is to my way of thinking, the central message of the Christmas/Winter season: hope. Hope for something wondrous. Hope for a light in the darkness.”
A worthwhile journey into the longest night of the year and a taste of the old Yule.Ticket prices for The Christmas Rose are $16 for non-members, $13 for PFS members, $7 for children 12-18 and free for children under 12. Advance tickets may be purchased online only at www.portlandfolkmusic.org/concerts or by calling 503.551.8849.