Sisters Havilah, Abigail, Heather and Tabitha Justice are indeed The Maidens IV in a recent Bellville performance while a beaming Mom (lower right) pauses in her production chores during their show.
ENCHANTING CELTIC MUSIC--
The entertainment scene in Bellville took on an international flavor one recent evening when the enthusiastically talented group Maidens IV treated an appreciative audience to a rousing, twilight treat of Celtic music.
I was surprised to see their van had Ohio license plates. I was even more surprised when I learned these young ladies were from a family of nine children who grew up on a farm in the nearby Hayesville, Ohio area.
The Gods of Celtic music sure strayed a long way from Dublin when they blessed this family with their abundant musical talent.
And, their proud mother smiled quietly in the back of the hall when daughter and lead singer Heather quipped lovingly, each of the girls began their musical training on the violin, “...because that was Mom’s instrument.”
The four coaxed their marvelous sound out of two violins, an acoustic guitar and a Bodhran—a shallow Irish drum; most of their music in the form of original compositions, no less!
While to my untrained ear there was a mild sameness to their individual pieces, their instrumentation, vocalization, and “...eight dancing maidens feet” combined for a thoroughly enjoyable pair of 45 minute sets; an evening of high voltage entertainment I would be happy to experience again; soon, and often.
The venue for the performance was Pumpkin Hollow, a dandy, Bellville antique shop and eatery tucked along the bicycle trail. Even with recent remodeling to host such events, it still has some work to do, however. It was very crowded on a warm summer evening and the three ceiling fans were not an adequate substitution for air conditioning.
And, stage lighting was abysmal. It would have been an improvement if folks in the front row were simply given flashlights for that purpose. But, like the class act they were, the Maidens IV expressed their gratitude for the remodeling recently accomplished.
ENCHANTING CELTIC MUSIC--
The entertainment scene in Bellville took on an international flavor one recent evening when the enthusiastically talented group Maidens IV treated an appreciative audience to a rousing, twilight treat of Celtic music.
I was surprised to see their van had Ohio license plates. I was even more surprised when I learned these young ladies were from a family of nine children who grew up on a farm in the nearby Hayesville, Ohio area.
The Gods of Celtic music sure strayed a long way from Dublin when they blessed this family with their abundant musical talent.
And, their proud mother smiled quietly in the back of the hall when daughter and lead singer Heather quipped lovingly, each of the girls began their musical training on the violin, “...because that was Mom’s instrument.”
The four coaxed their marvelous sound out of two violins, an acoustic guitar and a Bodhran—a shallow Irish drum; most of their music in the form of original compositions, no less!
While to my untrained ear there was a mild sameness to their individual pieces, their instrumentation, vocalization, and “...eight dancing maidens feet” combined for a thoroughly enjoyable pair of 45 minute sets; an evening of high voltage entertainment I would be happy to experience again; soon, and often.The venue for the performance was Pumpkin Hollow, a dandy, Bellville antique shop and eatery tucked along the bicycle trail. Even with recent remodeling to host such events, it still has some work to do, however. It was very crowded on a warm summer evening and the three ceiling fans were not an adequate substitution for air conditioning.
And, stage lighting was abysmal. It would have been an improvement if folks in the front row were simply given flashlights for that purpose. But, like the class act they were, the Maidens IV expressed their gratitude for the remodeling recently accomplished.
For a sample of their delicious sound go to their website maidensmusic.com, click “CDs and More”, turn up your volume, kick back and enjoy your very own audition of their remarkable talent.
For other upcoming programs of an eclectic musical variety click here to check the website of Mansfield’s very own promotional group, Highlands of Ohio.
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