Fairlee Ltd.

Epic Days

"Sing in me, Muse, and through me lift the great tale again. Begin it, goddess, at whatever point you will." - Homer

Biannual Epic Day

Pilgrim Tellers, 2005

I sponsor Biannual Epic Days in my home to help reintroduce the long tale cycle, saga, myth and epic into our repertoires. Twice a year, about 35 tellers make a pilgrimage to my home in northern California to retell an epic of our choosing. Pieces are distributed a few months earlier and tellers tell in their own words, in their own style, to dedicated listeners. Seven hours of traditional telling creates an intense listening experience rare in today's sound bite world.

The pieces chosen are new to the teller, as it is meant to be a learning experience, not a polished performance. The pieces are told in the Spring and again in the Fall to give a chance to be inspired by what we have learned from the first telling. Many tell me they added these meaty tales to their repertoire. The conversation generated by the tales is wonderful, as is the potluck food! There is no fee. We are always a full house. The mailing list has grown by word of mouth. So satisfying.

I feel this event is best kept in a small venue but would love to help others organize an epic event in their areas. I do give workshops on Epic Telling. Epics are sophisticated sagas of maturing, courage, passion, destiny and were known to the literate and illiterate alike. They are best heard and shared, not merely read silently. Epics contain the values and pride of a time when to listen was to learn. Epics are the literature of the soul.

Pilgrim Tellers, 2010

With from nine to eighteen tellers we have recreated -

2005 English Canterbury Tales

2006 Welsh Mabinogion

2007 Arabian Nights

2008 Greek Odyssey

2009 Hindu Ramayana

2010 French Persivale

2011 Sumerian Inanna & Gilgamesh

2012 Finnish Kalevala

And the pilgrimage goes on ...

Home ** Calendar ** Booking ** Biography ** Recordings **

©Fairlee Ltd.

cfair@monitor.net
707-433-2297
Cathryn Fairlee
Cotati, California