For those interested in the origins of Northern European folk music or in need of divine creative inspiration, The Muses might be a good bet.
Providing tributes, revisions and present-day updates to Celtic songs, The Muses will be culturally invading Schlow Centre Region Library tonight.
Tanya Brody and Matthew Gurnsey -- the original members of The Muses -- will be accompanied by Lindsay Jensen, who joined the tour this year.
Their band name was derived from the Latin root word for music and the Nine Muses from Greek mythology.
"We tend to inspire people all over the place," Brody said. "The name was also kept around because we liked it."
Melissa Sinner, in charge of public relations at Schlow, said this "Irish version of hip-hop without being Irish or hip-hop" would likely provoke toe tapping among audience members.
"Anybody who goes to the Phyrst has a little bit of Irish in them," Sinner joked.
Upon finding out the band was touring on the East Coast, Pat Griffith, adult services librarian, booked the show for the library's globally themed month.
"If people like Celtic music or they want to have a multicultural experience of a different kind we don't always hear in State College, we think it'd be a fun thing," Griffith said. "And of course it's a free concert."
The Muses label their act "Celtic music with zing" because though they play a selection of traditional music, they often incorporate acoustic electric bass. The group takes older pieces and gives them a more modern feel, Brody said.
Brody emphasized The Muses is not a Celtic rock band that often uses fiddles, bagpipes and whistles but rather "a traditional band that adds flair to traditional Celtic music."
The trio packs a variety of antiquated instruments in its arsenal, including a concertina, psaltery, mandolin, pennywhistle, harp and bodhran, an Irish drum.
Brody and Gurnsey each started out as solo artists and played only one instrument. Brody played the harp, then studied Celtic and opera. Gurnsey played the concertina, then studied jazz. Blending their skills and knowledge allowed them to explore intricate harmonies and play off each other, Brody said.
"I now have four arms to play all these instruments," said Brody, who is aided by the third member as well.
The group has played at Scottish and Irish festivals across the country and recorded two albums, Tramps & Hawkers and Passing Time. Sinner said the source material may be dated, but The Muses' upbeat attitude brings out audience's inner Scots or Irishmen.
"The Muses aren't stodgy," Sinner said. "They're not playing at you. They sound like they're going to be lively, raucous fun."
