Music & Myth, Harp Guitar 2024
Stunning visionary music, tales and legends from the Celtic Isles, with video backdrop.
Magdalen Chapel
MENU‘Music & Myth’ will transport audiences back to a time when bards would play music and tell stories around a fire. In the rush of the modern world, many people are finding it difficult to remember where they came from. Jon Pickard will tell ancient tales in this theatrical presentation that includes masterful storytelling complete with video images and music he composed for this presentation. This fun filled event is for the young at heart and for those who will enjoy tales of Celtic Saints, Welsh Giants, Eastern Mystics and much more.
“Pickard’s ability to teleport the listener from the woody oaks of a forest in Ireland to the deserted dunes of Egypt is breath-taking. When played by Pickard, the Harp-Guitar transforms into a tool of spirituality and nature.” BritishTheatre.com
Genre: Classical / Folk / Original
Bio:
Jon Pickard is an award winning artist, storyteller, instrumentalist, and composer inspired by mythological folk tales from the Celtic world and beyond. Jon also works in the medium of video and has created rich video backdrops for most of his show, which play alongside each tune adding to the experience. After graduating as a Classical Guitarist in 2005, Jon enjoys a busy and varied career as an performer, teacher and composer. He has toured and given concerts & talks across the UK, and in France & Germany and the USA.
The Harp Guitar:
Harp Guitars, and instruments like them, have been around for over 400 years. Unlike the six string guitar, it uses extra banks of strings to add extra range or textures. Harp guitars come with either ‘sub-bass’ (extra low strings), or ‘super-treble’ (extra high strings), or both. Compared to a basic 6 string guitar, it has greater range, resonance, and volume requiring a different approach from the player - the listener is taken into a whole new world sonically.
Jon is pictured here with his own unique instrument which he designed himself. Fresh from recent International Festival performances in the USA and France, including several collaborative recording projects Jon has become one of the leading world figures in this Harp Guitar universe.
Reviews
“A rare musical treat… a consummate musician…a sensitive and versatile player…a gem of a show…a magical experience” Buxton Fringe
“Beautiful, atmospheric….profoundly emotional and spiritual...You want to close your eyes and let the pictures created by the musician take you” The Fine Times Recorder
“When played by Pickard, the Harp-Guitar transforms into a tool of spirituality and nature. The ability of the instrument to teleport the listener from the woody oaks of a forest in Ireland to the deserted dunes of Egypt is breath-taking.” BritishTheatre.com
“I have been involved with music all of my life and have never seen nor heard anything to match this. The harp guitar is really quite amazing and your mastery of it is simply staggering.” The Old Theatre Royal, Bath
"Jon Pickard makes magic on harp guitar.” Stephen Bennett, award winning US guitarist
“You are taking the instrument to another level.” Prof. John Doan, Emmy award nominated US guitarist.
https://www.jonpickard.co.uk/harp-guitar
