Music Rare instruments play at ACT
Musicians bring a bass psaltery, an organistrum, and a Swedish nyckelharpa, among other instruments, for a Christmas concert
Winter Harp is at The ACT Sunday as part of an 11-city tour.
Photograph by: Submitted , TIMES
What has come to be an annual tradition in Maple Ridge, Winter Harp returns to The ACT as part of its 11-city Western Canada Christmas tour.
Winter Harp is a concert experience that has captured the spirit of the season, along with people's hearts, for nearly two decades.
Known for its sold-out houses and standing ovations, this ensemble celebrates its 19th year on tour, coming to The ACT on Sunday, Dec. 16 for two shows: 3 and 7 p.m.
This year's special guest is Kim Robertson, one of the world's leading Celtic harpists.
Robertson is one of the forerunners in the renaissance of the Celtic harp in North America. Her arrangements and performances have been credited with helping launch the Celtic harp into the modern world.
And returning this year is storyteller and harpist Patrick Ball with a rare and magical wire-strung harp.
On stage, Winter Harp's musicians, clad in brilliant medieval attire, perform a collection of music from well-known carols to Celtic, medieval, world, and Spanish tunes.
Dozens of candles light the stage, providing an illuminated backdrop for the golden Celtic and classical harps, drums, tambourines, temple bells, flutes, and an assortment of ancient and rare instruments, including the ethereal-sounding bass psaltery (the only one like it in the world), the organ-istrum (an early form of the hurdy-gurdy) and the Swedish nyckelharpa.
The artists of the Winter Harp 2012 include Robertson on Celtic harp and vocals, Ball narrating and on wire-strung harp, Janelle Nadeau on pedal harp and vocals, Roger Helfrik on vocals, medieval harp, and plucked psaltery, Lauri Lyster on percussion and vocals, Jeff Pelletier on flute, bass flute, and wooden piccolo, Joaquin Ayala on nyckelharpa, bass psaltery, and organis-trum, and Lori Pappajohn on Celtic harp and vocals - she is also the Winter Harp director.
For more information on Winter Harp, people can visit www.winterharp.com.
Winter Harp is at The ACT on Dec. 16 at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale at The ACT ticket centre, by calling 604-476-2787, or visiting www.theactmapleridge.org.
