Stanley Greenthal’s SeaMuse plays Dec. 18 at Firehouse

Stanley Greenthal says that when he first heard Irish music in the early ’70s, during the “rediscovery”of traditional music by young groups in Ireland and Scotland, he wanted to play the music and went to Ireland to seek out players and singers.

“It was an awakening to realize how an old tradition was sustained generation-to-generation by songs and tunes being passed along in the oral tradition,” he says. “This music was as contemporary and meaningful as any I had heard, and inspired me to write my own songs and tunes.”

“This led to my discovery of music from Brittany, Greece and the Balkans,” Greenthal says. “I’m grateful to still be following the path of music today.”

Greenthal and his new group, SeaMuse, performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at Firehouse Performing Arts Center in Fairhaven.

Greenthal plays guitar, bouzouki (a large mandolin tuned an octave below the violin), laouto and lavta (Greek and Turkish lutes), and occasionally four-string tenor guitar.

He performs in a duo with his wife, percussionist Kip; as well as with SeaMuse, with Christos Govetas on clarinent, oud and bouzouki; and Kim Goldov on violin.

“Our repertoire has developed over many years,” Greenthal says.

“Besides being a great multi-instrumentalist and singer, Christos brings his extensive knowledge of the many musical traditions in Greek and Balkan music to our group,” Greenthal says. “Kim joined our trio a couple of years ago, and his presence and open approach to music precipitated the evolution from ‘Stanley Greenthal Ensemble’ to ‘Stanley Greenthal & SeaMuse.’”

“The new name celebrates the collaborative spirit which inspires how we play and arrange music together,” he says.

“Christos and his wife, Ruth Hunter, noted that much of the repertoire we perform comes from coastal regions and islands where the presence of the sea is a strong element in the life of people and their musical and dance traditions. Also, the image of the Muse, who brings gifts to the imagination, if one is lucky enough and courts her with patience.”

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 5:11 AM with the headline "Stanley Greenthal’s SeaMuse plays Dec. 18 at Firehouse."