It is the end of a long, rigorous
day. The young men, not yet braves, sit around the fire and listen to
the words of the shaman. He tells them of the great animal spirits and
the conflicts between them. How sly Coyote outwits the strong
Bear out
of a meal. How the persistent Tortoise bests the swift Hare in a
running race. The shaman tells them of these creatures – emotion
personified – and that while they may have conflicts between themselves,
that as men of the tribe they must depend on the powers of others for
the good of all.
Another time. Another place. A group
of Irish laborers sneak out into the fields at dusk with a bit of the
boss' "personal medicine". A fire is made, to warm them in ways that
the drink cannot. And as they sit and relax, a mandolin is produced. A
song begins; the first of many that evening.
Another time. Another place. The
grandmother’s lined face comes alive as she speaks, the motion of the
rocking chair steady and deliberate. At her feet her grandchildren sit
cross-legged, eyes wide, hanging onto every word. They listen to how
great-great grandfather crossed the river into a new land, fought off
mercenaries, and built his house with his own two hands. The words are
exciting and familiar and, though they have heard them before, they
request them every time, listening with bated breath to the lyrical,
soothing voice.
Another time. Another place. A group of girls are gathered around the
campfire. The sound of their laughter and lively chatter drift through
the night air, their excitement mounts ... This is what makes a great
campout – the ghost stories! A hush washes over the group as their troop
leader begins to weave a haunting legend against the shadows of the
woods.
For as long as mankind has been
around, the campfire has been synonymous with the storyteller. Be it as
scouts on a camping trip today or among the countless natives of every
continent in the world, it is very rare that you find a campfire without
a story attached to it. This concert is made up of a number of stories
and songs, all connected in some way to the spirit of the countless
people before us who gathered around a fire to put some warmth in their
hearts as well as on their bodies.
