Performing in Copley Square, Boston as part of Japan’s Haru-Matsuri Spring Festival
STORYTELLING AND HARP PERFORMANCES:
Bring something truly unique to your Garden Club with Diane and Margot’s entertaining storytelling and song performances. Centered around the deep meaning world cultures have found in the plants they loved these legends and songs range from the delightfully humorous to the heartfelt. Choose from seasonal events like The Winter Solstice in Legend and Song or the flower-centric performance Fantastical Folktales of Flowers.
Email Diane@LivingMyth.com today to discuss availability and rates
ENJOY A PREVIEW OF FANTASTICAL FOLKTALES OF FLOWERS!
Choose from the following performances:
Fantastical Folktales of Flowers!
A delightful weave of story, music and song
The dramatic myths that surround favorite garden flowers come alive in this delightful weave of story, music and song. The centerpiece of the performance is Diane’s original adaptation of the exotic Persian tale: Nightingale and Rose, an evocative and truly fanciful story about the rose and its origins. Other flower and garden stories include the entertaining Greek myth of Narcissus, a sweet Native American story about the Dandelion and her lover the South Wind, as well as a beautiful duet about the mysterious “Language of Flowers,” celebrated in Victorian times. A master storyteller, Diane entertains and enchants transforming into the characters in her tales bringing each story to vibrant life. The performance is accompanied by Celtic harp and song performed by long time collaborator harper/singer Margot Chamberlain. Celebrate flowers and the stories that have been told about them through the ages with this enchanting performance.
“I want to thank you for bringing your performance to our Wellfleet Gardeners meeting. Your music and storytelling were beautifully done and everyone enjoyed your presentation. I loved the storytelling and was happy to know that other people responded in a similar way. Thanks and we all hope to see you again. Judith Dalmas, President, Wellfleet Gardeners.
“You brought my garden alive to me in the most unusual and delightful way. I will never see a rose in the same way again!” Audience member- Pomperaug Woods, CT
Sacred Groves: Folktales and Songs of the Deep Spirit of Trees
Diane and Margot near the Birch Grove Photo by Pamela Ruby Russell
Storytelling, music and song form an enchanting weave in this story and harp performance celebrating the deep spirit of trees. Clothed in the rich metaphors of myth, these humorous and heartfelt traditional tales reawaken our imagination to the deep wonder and beauty of the forest. Stories range from the humorous to the heartfelt and include the beautiful story of Kansakura, a delicate tale of love featuring the honored cherry trees of Japan, The Dancing Spirit of the Birch from Czechoslovakia and Three Green Ladies, a poignant legend about the ancient tree spirits of Cornwall, England. Refreshing and lyrical each piece is surrounded by evocative music from the culture, Celtic harp and song.
“It was one of the most moving storytelling nights I’ve experienced. It reawakened in me, and perhaps all of us there, a sense of the spirit in things.” Storyteller, Jay O’Callahan
“I’ve heard this performance twice and can’t recommend it highly enough. It is magical, it is musical, it is beautiful, it is soulful, it is perfection.” Bambi Good, Brookline, MA
Midsummer Magic
Midsummer Magic is a story and music celebration of the Summer Solstice drawn from cultures around the world. This delightful and entertaining performance brings to life ancient legends of transformation, tree-spirits and fireflies. Midsummer Eve is traditionally a time of magic, a transitional moment in nature, when the fairy world can meet our own. Accompanied by harper Margot Chamberlain, master storyteller Diane Edgecomb brings us into a liminal world of twilight and beauty. This captivating event speaks of the deep meaning to be found in the natural world around us. The one-hour performance is suitable for adults and an older family audience.
The combination of both your talents made for an inspirational evening that moved the audience to laughter and to tears, and left us with a feeling that magic was in the air.” Director of programming, Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge MA
The Winter Solstice in Story and Song
Fascinating look at the nature stories behind our winter holiday traditions.
Why is the Mistletoe so important to Yuletide customs and how is kissing under the mistletoe related to an old Solstice tradition? Diane’s dramatic re-telling of the Legend of the Mistletoe from Scandinavia takes us to the very heart of the story. Many other seasonal plants and traditions reveal their meaning from the story of the origin of the first Christmas Rose (Hellebores Niger) to humorous Wassail traditions the audience can take part in. Songs and sing-along moments evocative of the season and lovely instrumental melodies round out the event.
“Your holiday program received rave reviews from our members. The unique blend of storytelling and music was very well-received by all. We would be pleased to be added to your list of references.” Lincoln Garden Club, Lincoln, MA
Email today to discuss availability and rates.
Bios:
Master storyteller Diane Edgecomb and Celtic harper Margot Chamberlain have been featured on NPR and at storytelling festivals, coffeehouses and theaters throughout the country. Diane is known for her unique style of storytelling, where she embodies the various characters and scenes in a tale, bringing each moment alive. For this she has won the National Oracle Award for Storytelling Excellence in the Northeast as well as five Storytelling World Awards. Margot Chamberlain has performed with numerous early music groups including LiveOak, Quadrivium and the Revels. Trained as a “GentleMUSE,” Margot has played harp for staff and patients at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and other places where the healing power of music is needed. Accompanist for Diane for over thirty years, her versatile approach to harp and song brings an underlying poetic weave to support each tale. Expect to laugh, to be moved, to leave your cares behind.
Channeling Rachel Carson
a solo performance followed by a workshop where we craft our own inspiring nature stories
Diane’s newest performance tells of her own journey to bring Rachel’s dedication and ethic forward for a new generation. This inspiring story is complemented with a workshop in creating our own tales.
The workshop begins with Diane’s humorous and evocative personal tale about how she became an “insect rehabilitator” and follower of the great Rachel Carson. After the initial storytelling, Diane shares ‘Story Prompts’ that help us discover the story nuggets in our own lives. This is followed by interactions in dyads (pairs) and triads (three people together) that allow us to share our beginning tales with fellow club members. It’s no surprise that we develop new friendships and new insights along the way. In five simple steps we’ll develop our own personal anecdotes about gardens, gardening and a life close to nature just right for sharing.
We all have stories to tell and Diane’s simple steps help us uncover those story-seeds and then develop them into little gems! From tales that teach a simple lesson to humorous anecdotes to those powerful stories that tell of our own deeper connection to nature- Diane takes members on a journey to uncover the story riches from years of gardening experience.
Inquire about rates and availability for any of these performances at Diane@LivingMyth.com
