But Isn't It Always Christmas with The Celts in Ridgefield?

RIDGEFIELD, CT — "The Irish invented bagpipes," the celtophile wags are fond of reminding you, "but it was the Scots who took them seriously." This is, of course, meant less as an admiration of Irish craftmanship as a dig at Scottish musical tastes.

This was brought to mind when I saw the listing for "Christmas with the Celts" coming up on the Ridgefield Patch Calendar. The show blends traditional carols, Irish and Scottish music, and American pop music, and will be returning to the Ridgefield Playhouse on Dec. 9. The Christmas with The Celts PBS pledge show was so successful that it was aired country-wide for three years., has and the live show sold out when it played here in Ridgefield each of the past three years.

It could just be personal bias skewing my perception, but it seems there has always been as much Killarney as Currier and Ives in Christmas celebrations in southwestern Connecticut. It might be the gateway to New England, but there's a Celtic heart beating here, and its music can be heard most clearly this time of year.

For The Celts, that music is played predominantly on traditional Irish instruments such as the bodhran, Irish whistle, five-string bass, and four-string banjo. The show also includes performances on the aforementioned pipes invented by the Irish, known in this century as uilleann pipes, or more commonly "Irish bagpipes." You can't march with these pipes, which no doubt limits their popularity in both parades and pop culture. Instead, the pipe blower, or cuisleannach, must be seated, filling the bellows by pumping his elbow rather than blowing, as required in the more famous Scots' version of the instrument. For his trouble, the piper is rewarded with a two octave range — immensely more versatile than the bagpipes' nine note repertoire.

Dancers from the award-winning Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance will open the show with a performance and will join The Celts on-stage, as well.

The Celts' lineup stars Ric Blair on vocal-guitar-bodhran and piano along with female lead singer and all Ireland champion fiddler and Irish dancer, Eimear Arkins.

Showtime at The Playhouse for "Christmas with the Celts" is 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9. Tickets are available online.

Photo provided.