Patrick Ball
Sebastopol, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
"Hauntingly beautiful ballads and lilting storytelling...it might spring from the 17th century...but the play seems as current as the latest troubles in Belfast...Patrick Ball's acting is fine, his musicianship outstanding...A small gem." - Variety
"Richly theatrical...the spell he casts is hauntingly beautiful...Ball embodies his subject with uncanny realism...a gem of a show."
- St. Petersburg Times, Florida
"Hauntingly beautiful ballads and lilting storytelling...it might spring from the 17th century...but the play seems as current as the latest troubles in Belfast...Patrick Ball's acting is fine, his musicianship outstanding...A small gem." - Variety
"An entrancing play...mystical and enchanting... bound by heavenly strands of music. It's beautiful" - Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, CA
"Riverdance, step aside. Frank McCourt, enough of you already, and your brother, too. It's time to make room for Patrick Ball. O'Carolan's Farewell to Music plucks a note as simple and candid as the fireside bond of oral tradition -- and that's exactly the magic...the solo performance weaves an irresistible Gaelic narrative, filled with laughter and mischief, politics and conflict...a rare performance...an inspired production...the music is spiritual and effortless."
- Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, CA
"An entrancing play...mystical and enchanting... bound by heavenly strands of music. It's beautiful" - Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, CA
"Ball is both a master storyteller and one of the world's leading Celtic harpists...he smoothly melds the two skills into an arresting oral biography of O'Carolan. The music is glowingly distinctive, lingering in the memory after the last note dies. Ball gives MacCabe's recollections a depth of emotion and a true sense of loss. Together the words and music create a moving portrait of O'Carolan."
- News Journal, Wilmington, DE
"There may be one person on the stage, but in The Fine Beauty of the Island...a whole culture appears before us. Through the voice of his Celtic harp, the lilt of his penny whistle, and the brogues of a pubful of characters, contemporary bard Patrick Ball casts a spell...weaving a pageant out of scraps of stories, researched history, and the raucous dark humor of the Irish. We find ourselves, like children, fed by his stories and abandoned to imagination. By blending a personal inner journey with the sensual reality and harsh beauty of the Blasket Islands, he created, like the bardic wanderers of old, the story of a vanished world."
- The Voice, Sonoma County, CA
"Ball is both a master storyteller and one of the world's leading Celtic harpists...he smoothly melds the two skills into an arresting oral biography of O'Carolan. The music is glowingly distinctive, lingering in the memory after the last note dies. Ball gives MacCabe's recollections a depth of emotion and a true sense of loss. Together the words and music create a moving portrait of O'Carolan."
- News Journal, Wilmington, DE
"An American master of the Irish instrument, a modern day bard, combining tale-telling, history and music into a seamless compound that reaches all ages and types of listeners."
- San Francisco Chronicle
"Patrick Ball conjured some Druid magic...weaving words and music into a spellbinding program."
- The Blade, Toledo, OH
"An American master of the Irish instrument, a modern day bard, combining tale-telling, history and music into a seamless compound that reaches all ages and types of listeners."
- San Francisco Chronicle
"Patrick Ball...casts a haunting spell... a graceful and often bittersweet evocation of the past."
- Washington Post
"What a rare holiday jewel this is! A delightful combination of seasonal Celtic harping, magical storytelling and personal tales. The audience was transported from holiday exhaustion into a world that was soothing and entertaining and filled with hope. What a gift!"
- Mary McDougall, Spreckels Performing Arts Center
"Patrick Ball...casts a haunting spell... a graceful and often bittersweet evocation of the past."
- Washington Post
Discography
MUSIC
Celtic Harp I: The Music of Turlough O'Carolan
Celtic Harp II: From a Distant Time
Celtic Harp III: Secret Isles
The Ugly Duckling (with Cher)
Celtic Harp IV: O'Carolan's Dream
The Christmas Rose
Fiona
Fair Play
Music on the Wind
The Wood of Morois
SPOKEN WORD & MUSIC:
Storyteller / Gwilan's Harp and Other Celtic Tales
Finnegans Wake
The Fine Beauty of the Island
Photos
Bio
Official Website: www.patrickball.com
Booking: 707-823-2923 / patrick@patrickball.com
Patrick Ball is "an American master of the Irish instrument, a modern day bard." (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE)
His performances are a richly theatrical and hauntingly beautiful (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES) blending of celtic harp and spoken word that resonate with lyricism and charm. (WASHINGTON POST)
Along with CELTIC HARP & STORY, his concert of music and legend, Patrick has written and currently performs two acclaimed solo musical theater pieces. O'CAROLAN'S FAREWELL TO MUSIC brings to the stage the legendary life, the turbulent times and the glorious music of Ireland's most celebrated and beloved musician, Turlough O'Carolan. THE FINE BEAUTY OF THE ISLAND is a musical journey to Ireland's legendary Blasket Islands in search of a deeply haunting tune and the vanished islanders who played it.
During the December holidays Patrick offers "THE CHRISTMAS ROSE" a celebration of the stories and music of the winter season.
All year round he also offers CHILDREN'S CONCERTS.
Patrick also presents two ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES:
THE FLAME OF LOVE, is a Spoken Word/Early Music retelling of the greatest of medieval legends, THE ROMANCE OF TRISTAN & ISEULT. In this very dramatic concert Patrick collaborates with "The Medieval Beasts": Shira Kammen (vielle, medieval harp, voice) and Tim Rayborn (lute, psaltery, medieval harp, voice).
In "LEGENDS OF THE CELTIC HARP" three of the premier Celtic harpers in the world take you deep into the myths, magic and fabled history of this most captivating instrument. In this joyous, dramatic musical journey Patrick collaborates with Lisa Lynne (Celtic Harp, Bouzouki) and Aryeh Frankfurter (Celtic Harp, Nyckelharpa, Cittern).
Patrick Ball is "a rare artist." For in playing the ancient, legendary brass-strung harp of Ireland with its crystalline, bell-like voice, and in telling marvelous tales of wit and enchantment, he not only brings new life to two cherished traditions, but blends them in performances that "conjure Druid magic...weaving words and music into a spellbinding program." (THE BLADE, Toledo, OH)
"Hauntingly beautiful ballads and lilting storytelling...a small gem."
--- VARIETY
"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. A warm and magical performance."
--- 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 is one of my favorite artists. I have enjoyed many wonderful Celtic harpists, Loreena McKennitt among them, as well as gifted storytellers, including Garrison Keillor. But I know of no one else who is able to blend both skills so beautifully and seamlessly. Patrick makes me smile and laugh out loud as well as weep, both as a storyteller and as a musician. His gift is rare. He has my highest recommendation as an exceptional and unique performing artist.
--- John H. Potter, Executive Director, THE PHIPPS CENTER FOR THE ARTS
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