Step into the enchanting world of Patrick Ball, one of the premier Celtic harp players in the world and a captivating storyteller whose performances weave music, legend, wit, and wonder into an unforgettable experience.
With the crystalline beauty of the Celtic harp as his musical voice, Ball brings ancient Irish tales and timeless melodies vividly to life, transporting audiences to a world of heroes and dreamers, mystery and mischief, heartbreak and humor. His masterful playing and gift for storytelling create an evening that is at once intimate, magical, and deeply human.
Join us at Occidental Center for the Arts for a spellbinding journey through the music and stories of Ireland with a true master of the tradition.
Tickets are $35, $30 for OCA members. Doors open at 6:30 PM, refreshments available. Art gallery open during event.
About Patrick Ball:
Whether in the stronghold of a Galway chieftain in the years before history began or yesterday in the snug corner of a pub in Dublin, the Irish have always delighted in storytelling. Their passion for eloquence and wordplay, their deep devotion to their mythical past, their ability to find joy and humor in a dark world, and their belief that the supernatural world could appear between one breath and the next made their stories and the telling of them unrivaled in the world of the oral tradition.
And always, amidst the storytelling, there was music. Jigs, reels and haunting airs graced the spaces between the tales. And first among Irish instruments, and the most honored, was the legendary Celtic harp. With its crystalline, bell-like voice and lavish resonance, it would soothe its listeners and lead them deeper into the realms of the imagination.
In Celtic Harp and Story Patrick Ball rekindles the fire and wonder of an evening of Irish storytelling. For in telling the marvelous old tales of wit and enchantment, and in playing the ancient, brass-strung harp of Ireland, he not only carries on two of the richest traditions of Celtic culture, but blends them in concert to create “a warm and magical performance.”
“An American master of the Irish instrument, a peripatetic modern day bard, combining tale-telling, history and music into a seamless compound that reaches all ages and types of listeners.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“It’s rare that we will feature a performer on our fine performances season for two consecutive years, but then Patrick is a rare artist ... The audience was entranced by his harp playing, amused by his storytelling. Patrick is a grand man who puts on a great show.”—APAP Report / Humboldt State University
“The SRO audience loved Mr. Ball's performance, asking when we will be bringing him back. Ball was a delight to work with, very professional, and he is superb at captivating an audience.”—APAP Report / Arizona State University
“Patrick Ball conjured some Druid magic ... weaving words and music into a spellbinding program.”—The Blade, Toledo, OH