HARPING ON ENCHANTMENT; CELTIC SONGS, TALES ENTHRALL WESTLAKE SCHOOLCHILDREN.Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer Centuries-old Irish stories were passed down to another generation of listeners Tuesday as Celtic harpist Patrick Ball performed for youngsters at St. Jude the Apostle
Jude (or Judas) is a Christian saint. He is also called Thaddaeus, Thaddeus or Judas Thaddaeus. Catholic School. Ball alternated music with stories of fairies and witches as he captivated cap·ti·vate tr.v. cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing, cap·ti·vates 1. To attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence. See Synonyms at charm. 2. Archaic To capture. an audience of children in kindergarten through fourth grades. He was pleased to be an alternative to video entertainment. ``One of the really unfortunate aspects of the modern world is how much children watch television,'' Ball said. ``It makes them very, very bad listeners, and it makes them less inclined to find enchantment enchantment: see magic. Enchantment See also Fantasy, Magic. Alidoro fairy godfather to Italian Cinderella. [Ital. in their day-to-day world.'' Ball's appearance was sponsored by the Music Center, which sends musicians, actors, dancers and storytellers to more than 700 schools throughout Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , said Barbara Leonard, artistic director of the center's Education Division. The center's artists give as many as 60 performances a day throughout the region, Leonard said. Ball told the children that his harp, made of maple wood with brass strings, resembles ones more than 200 years old. Ball, who has a master's degree master's degree n. An academic degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete at least one year of prescribed study beyond the bachelor's degree. Noun 1. in Irish history, began playing a harp 18 years ago, after a friend bought him one on a whim whim n. 1. A sudden or capricious idea; a fancy. 2. Arbitrary thought or impulse: governed by whim. 3. A vertical horse-powered drum used as a hoist in a mine. at a fair. The children were raptly attentive while he told his tales, as of a man sucked into a fairy castle, and acted the parts of characters, such as one with humps on his back. Ball said he enjoys performing for children. ``I want them to have been enchanted en·chant tr.v. en·chant·ed, en·chant·ing, en·chants 1. To cast a spell over; bewitch. 2. To attract and delight; entrance. See Synonyms at charm. for at least a little while,'' Ball said. ``It's not that hard to keep their attention. A traditional storyteller probably would not have been as animated as I am.'' The children may learn that listening takes some effort, and they may be better prepared for the next performer they see, he said. Ball is from Sebastopol, Calif., near Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, city, Argentina Santa Rosa, city (1991 pop. 80,629), capital of La Pampa prov., central Argentina. It is a modern city and road junction surrounded by a rich agricultural and cattle-raising area. , and performs about 100 times a year outside the home. At home, he and his 7-year-old daughter entertain each other. ``I just see my daughter in all these kids,'' he said. ``I know I want the absolute best for my daughter. That's pretty much what motivates me nowadays. That, and coffee.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1-2--Color) Irish historian and harpist Patrick Ball, right, performs for children Tuesday in Westlake Village. Above, Jack Capri, 5, stifles laughter so he can hear every word of a funny story. Andy Holzman/Daily News |
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