Posted on

Upcoming Welsh Harp and Storytelling Performance

The Seattle Storytellers Guild presents:

When Harpers Once in Wooden Halls: Celtic tales, poetry, folklore, music and song for the dark of the year

Followed by more Music, Songs and Poetry presented by Puget Sound Welsh Association

Saturday, October 5th, 2019 7:00 PM
At the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church,
14724 1st Ave NE, Shoreline

Bardic harper and storyteller Jane Valencia will present tales of transformation for the dark of the year interwoven with early Welsh poetry, threads of medieval Welsh language, tree and herbal lore, music, and other Celtic magic.

A lover of Celtic tale and lore since she was a child, Jane took up the harp after studying medieval Welsh bardic poetry, language, and literature (including the Mabinogion) at UC Berkeley and at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. With harp and storytelling, Jane has found that she can weave everything she loves into bardic performance, including folklore, song, poetry, art, and the beauty and wonder of nature.

Deb Knodel

Jane’s harp duo partner, Deb Knodel will join Jane in this performance. As the harp duo Spookytree, Deb and Jane have performed together since 1990, have three recordings, and have offered bardic storytelling since 1994. Their music is described as “intelligent, playful” and “pure magic.”

Members of the Puget Sound Welsh Association in the second half of the program will bring even more Welsh music, songs and poetry. They are partnering with the Seattle Storytellers Guild in this program – which is a prelude to an Epic Telling of the Welsh Mabinogion to be presented by the Seattle Storytellers Guild this coming May.

Refreshments provided!

Admission: $10 Guild and Welsh association members – $15 non-members of the Guild

Info: seattlestorytellers.org or Contact Barry at eldrbarry@gmail.com

This Event will be preceded Saturday Afternoon, October 5th with:

A Taste of Storytelling Workshop

at the Haller Lake United Methodist Church, 13055 1st Ave NE, Seattle — 1-4 pm

Explore your curiosity about Storytelling while learning to tell a tale without memorization

– a sample of Susy Irwin’s North Seattle College Storytelling Class.

$20 Guild and Welsh Members $25 Non-members

Posted on

Forest Halls Celtic Resumes this Sunday

It’s back! Our radio show resumes this Sunday, Sept. 1, 12 noon to 2pm PST. Listen to traditional and contemporary Celtic music, with forays into other genres, such as Indie-folk, historical music, World, and more. You’ll always hear some harp music. I also love to share ancient Celtic poetry, folklore, tales and other magic. We aim for a refreshing, relaxing, and fun show. If you’re on Vashon, please join me at KVSH 101.9 fm, otherwise listen in at Voice of Vashon.

Posted on

Harp Circle on Vashon!

Harp Circle on Vashon! - Art
Illustration by Jane Valencia

What: Harp Circle on Vashon!
When: Sunday, Feb. 10, 2-4:30
Location: Home of Jane Valencia

Contact Jane here for location and to RSVP

Please bring: your harp (if you have one), snack or beverage to share (or feel free to just come!)
If you wish: you’re welcome to bring another instrument or a tune to share

Who:
All harp players of any kind of harp (including lyres), all levels including absolute beginners

Folk who are harp-curious
Folk who have a harp but haven’t played in awhile, even years (or decades!)
Musicians who love playing music with harp players
You love the harp and are happy just to listen to it

…. You are all welcome to this gathering!

The intention of this gathering is to share our love of the harp, or curiosity and interest about this beautiful instrument, to meet and to support each other wherever we are in our harp journey or in how we happen to be with the harp that day!

What we’ll do:
We’ll meet each other and the harps. I (Jane) will lead some group harp playing, designed for everyone present to be able to participate in the music-making. Even if you’ve never played the harp, you’ll be able to play! We’ll use the harp in a variety of ways in our music making. We will also have a “works-in-progress” time, where all are invited to share a tune they are working on and be fully supported in their playing. If you want to bring a tune, song, or poem to share that we might play with as a group, please do. I love to improvise ways a whole group can musically adventure together. If you want to lead a group music offering yourself, you are welcome to do so!

You love the harp but have no wish to play? You’re welcome to listen and enjoy!

Any questions? Please contact me. Feel free to share this information with others who might be interested!

Yours with harp and song,

Jane

Harpers Hall Gathering - photo
What a Harp Circle looks like. Pictured: a Harpers Hall Monthly Gathering.