Join the Marshalltown Tuesday Musical Club on April 20, 2027, for the Speakers Bureau presentation “The Flute in Myth and Legend” by Dr. Christine Beard.

This lecture-recital explores the enduring power of myth and legend through music for the flute, examining how composers across cultures and time periods have drawn inspiration from ancient stories, folklore, and archetypal characters. Myths—whether rooted in Greek antiquity, Celtic folklore, or broader oral traditions—have long served as vessels for shared values, fears, and human questions, and music offers a uniquely evocative way to retell these stories without words. Through live performance and engaging commentary, the program traces how legendary figures, supernatural beings, and heroic narratives are translated into musical character, color, and gesture. Audiences are invited to consider how composers use melody, rhythm, and timbre to suggest transformation, conflict, fate, and wonder, while also exploring the historical and cultural contexts that gave rise to these works.