I am the pastor of a new Presbyterian Church that is starting in the Statesville/Mooresvill area of North Carolina. I have a great interest in contemporary Christian Celtic music (Robin Marks, Eden’s Bridge, etc.) and I am looking for Celtic instrumentalists (especially wood wind players) who would like to be a part of an already established worship team (keyboards, guitars, bass (me!), vocalists and drums. Can anyone advise me regarding folks in my area who might be interested in being a part of such a team?
There is nothing like a bit of pagan entertainment to liven up a Church service, I agree. Unfortunately, I don’t live in the area, otherwise I’d be happy to join the other Celtic musicians in cutting mistle toe and dancing around a sacred oak tree in the buff on Sunday mornings. It sure beats the introitus.
You could check the sessions at local Irish style pubs to see who might be interested in playing. Also local folk/traditional music festivals in your area.
Bloomfield in the buff, dancing around a sacred oak tree. Now that would be a way to increase church attendence.
the abuse you’re getting is typical. Don’t take it badly. Thing is, most so-called Christian Celtic material is about as Celtic as the Titanic movie. Even the word Celtic is suspect, because it bundles together the Irish, the Scotts, Bretons, Basques, etc, etc, etc. People here tend to stick closer to traditional Irish music (jigs & reels).
I posted your notice on Mack Hoover’s “Praise Whistlers” site, and maybe you’ll get an answer from there. I’m in IL, so i can’t help much, but it’s always good to see a Presbyterian minister who can rock.
This is nothing compared to the abuse you’ll face with a crowd of whistlers in the choir loft. Imagine renditions like “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” played with rolls.
Jeesh…I wish they’d have that kind of stuff at my Presb. Church. 'Course, I took that belief-o-matic quiz on beliefnet once and it told me I was neo-pagan anyway…the next time (don’t know what I did differently,) it said I was Unitarian.
It may be a bit of a drive, but I’d say you should go to the Celtic Trader’s sessions in Charlotte to find musicians in the area. Better yet, you should call the Celtic Trader or email them (phone and email can be found at http://celtictrader.com ), since they are really into the Mecklinburg County Irish music scene, and are nice people to boot.
It’s too bad you’re not closer to the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) area; there are many musicians here (myself included) who would love more opertunities to play publicly…
If it had not recently ended, I would also have suggested raiding the Carolina Rennaisance Faire near Concord. Lots of local musicians to be found there. Maybe next year
You would need a GHB marching band to be heard over the racket the keyboards, guitars, bass, vocalists and drums would make, I would think.
If there is anyting that can ruin trad music, it’s keyboards, guitars, bass and drums. Besides, exactly how would dance music fit into a church service?
I agree, but the operative word, I think, is “Celtic”, not trad. Quite a liturgical fashion lately, it appears.
Very well, actually. I’ve done it myself. Some jigs, reels and hornpipes sound very good at stately or slow paces, very respectful and meditative. And don’t forget marches and airs, too. I’ve played flute at services along with a guitarist and and an uilleann piper, and another time with a trad harper, wire-strung.
Maybe it wasn’t the music but the Rocky-Horror-Picture-Show outfits you were wearing…
This “Celtic” Christian stuff probably contains a lot of O’Carolan stuff which lends itself to “devotional” interpretations, I think. And you can just take a Dorian scale, never play either the sixth or the seventh step, put a bodhran player on stage, jam around a bit, et voila: Celtic Music. (Sorry if I am taking this off topic.)
Oh, you, Bloo…it was great kilts, matted hair and blue paint (couldn’t find a decent source for woad). The pastor was eyeing our claymores a bit nervously, too.
AND may I say that nary an O’Carolan tune was ever played. So there.
The Celtic Christian stuff is more or less the same as the Celtic neo-pagan stuff, sorry to say. Long wailing notes that remind you of the mysts of time and make you think of Stonehenge. Not my usual cup of tea, but some people like it.
There is one Christian band, though, i’ve heard, that does pretty decent Isishoid stuff: Ceili Rain! I was really surprised with those guys.
