Celtic concert to celebrate medieval storytellers

Patrick Ball and the Medieval Beasts will perform "The Flame of Love," at 7 p.m., May 16 at the C.V.I.C. Hall, 1604 Esmeralda, Minden.

The performance, sponsored by the Carson Valley Arts Council, is a spoken word and early music retelling of the medieval legend, "The Romance of Tristan and Iseult."

In "The Flame of Love," the words and musical instruments used are similar to those of the ancient storytellers " harp, the vielle, the lute, the psaltery, and percussion.

"In our modern world we have an endless array of technologies that would have allowed us to present such a tale in a more modern way ... But, we tell this story in the old way. And we will be looking into your eyes while we do," Patrick Ball said.

The Medieval Beasts include Ball, Shira Kammen and Tim Rayborn.

Ball is an internationally acclaimed Celtic harp player and a captivating spoken word artist. He has recorded seven instrumental and three spoken word albums.

Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Kammen has spent more than half her life exploring the worlds of early and traditional music.

Rayborn, has immersed himself in the fields of world and early music. He plays more than 80 musical instruments from medieval Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Central Asia, as well as singing.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with a no-host bar sponsored by the Carson Valley Community Theater.

Admission is $15 for members, $17 for nonmembers. Go to www.cvartscouncil.com or calling 782-8207.

Proceeds benefit the Carson Valley Arts Council and the Wild Horse Children's Theater.