PORTLAND – A concert of yuletide harp music will be presented at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, St. Lawrence Community Art Center, 76 Congress St.
Celtic harpists Deborah Friou and Julia Lane have joined to create a joyous collection of music from the British Isles’ yuletide tradition.There will be familiar carols like “God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen” and the “Coventry Carol” as well as obscure offerings such as “Christ Child Lullaby” and “Rorate” from Scotland, the “Wexford Carol” from Ireland and the English “Abbott’s Bromley Horn Dance.”
The Celtic harp is an ancestor of the orchestral harp. It has been used as a vehicle for musical celebration for over a thousand years.
The return of light during the darkness of the winter solstice, coinciding with the Christmas celebration, caused ancient people to create rituals and music in honor of the event. Celtic harps were used by the bards and minstrels from at least the 4th century until the early 18th century.
Friou has devoted 25 years to the revival of the Celtic harp. She’s done this through performance, six books of harp arrangements and two solo recordings of Renaissance and Celtic music.
Friou has performed at and taught workshops at festivals throughout the United State and in Scotland. She now performs on both nylon-strung and wire-strung harps and teaches in Brunswick.
Lane’s unique, self-taught style has helped her win several international competitions.
She currently plays and sings with partner Fred Gosbee in a duo called Castlebay. They’ve toured the East Coast, England, Scotland and Ireland, and have recorded more than 10 albums of Celtic and original music.
Tickets will be available at the door at the center, located at 76 Congress St. Tickets are $12. FMI: go online to www.stlawrencearts.org and click on “events.”
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