Eileen Ivers to perform Irish Christmas music at the Majestic

The weaving of traditional Celtic Christmas tales and music with a few twists are what make "An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas" a unique show for audiences to enjoy, according to Eileen Ivers.

Ivers, alternately heralded as the queen of the Celtic fiddle and the "Jimi Hendrix of the violin," visits the Majestic stage in Gettysburg Tuesday.

"It just has a lot going on," Ivers said.

Ivers and her band, Immigrant Soul, take audiences through popular American carols, religious music and Wren Day songs. Wren Day is a day celebrated in Ireland. A group of boys would capture a wren, tie it to a pole, and then go around town collecting money for the wren that would be donated to those people less fortunate in town.

"I love telling stories about these traditions to people," Ivers said.

Ivers passes on traditional tales and stories of family in the show - stories that are close to her heart as the daughter of two Irish immigrants.

Raised in Brooklyn, Ivers said she was exposed to many influences that affected her musical ability.

She is known for her collaborations and creativity. Part of that stems from her instrument itself, she said.

"It's such a great instrument to play in different formats," Ivers said. The violin can find a home in blues and jazz, classical and bluegrass music. "It really lends itself to different environments."

Ivers said she also enjoys finding commonalities in music and new ways to play songs to make the music and arrangements more accessible to audiences.

Ivers and Immigrant Soul have applied that to the show, turning Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" into a jig, tying "Oh, Happy Day" onto the end of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," changing tempos and keys of some songs, improvising sections and plugging Ivers' violin into a wa-wa pedal.

The collaboration does not end there. On tour, Ivers has been inviting local Celtic dance groups and choirs to join her on stage. Dancers from the Coyle School of Dance from New Freedom will perform, as well as the Schola Cantorum.

The Schola Cantorum is a 30-member choir of people from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia under the direction of Stephen Folkemer, professor of music at Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Ivers said bringing the show, with its themes of Christianity, has brought smiles to audiences faces.

"It really brings it back to the inherent joy of this time of year. I think it centers everyone," Ivers said.

- Jamie McCune, for FlipSide

If you go

WHAT: Eileen Ivers presents "An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas"

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20

WHERE: Majestic Theater, Gettysburg, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg

COST: $44, $41 and $37

DETAILS: Visit gettysburgmajestic.org or call 337-8200