Music to my ears.........

I love music. I am so glad that I can hear music. I love to sing and I am often whistling (sometimes I forget and start whistling in church!). Perhaps it is the Irish in me and some long ago ancestor who passed along her singing genes, but I cannot live without music. I think my Irish heritage is where I get my story-telling genes, too, and there's a wee bit o'Scottish blood in the mix, too. Then there are my quilting genes and the quilt in this photo is an example of the "genes" my Grandma Goldie handed down........
I love the colors in this quilt and the handstitching. I am thinking of my Grandma Goldie today because this day would be her birthday. She passed away several years ago, but I still mark her birthday in my calendar each year. While she made the quilt that's in the picture above, her real gift was playing the piano. That's how she met my grandpa. The story goes that he wanted to get to know her so he began taking piano lessons from her when she was 16 and he was 15. My great Aunt Elsie told me that story and said it was so. :-) My grandma played the piano for church for over 50 years! During that time she played many times when my sister and I would sing for church suppers or bridal showers. So many of my quilting and music memories are tied together that it is hard to seperate them. Recalling Grandma as she played is "music to my ears".

And with thoughts of music and the fact that St. Patrick's day is coming up in just a few days, I have something special to share...... There is a chance for you to listen to some lovely Irish music if you live in the area of Mankato, MN. I've mentioned Amy Korteum before but let me introduce her again. This is Amy, on the harp, and her musician friends who are playing beautiful Celtic music............more "music to my ears"!

Yes, they are playing in the great outdoors but this was taken last summer when they were the featured artists at "Music on Main" held in downtown Henderson, MN. :-) You all know it's March and here in Minnesota there is still a lot of snow on the ground! I can remember how beautiful and lively the music was, Amy's sweet voice as she sang those folk songs........and her wonderful laugh!!! If you want to know more, go here, and you can check out Amy's website and even listen to a bit of her music. You'll also see where she will be playing in the next few weeks. I wanted to go the concert this Saturday night but I am not going to be able to do that. Instead, I am planning to go to her solo harp concert later this month. If you live nearby, you should really go and listen to her music. A testament to her talent is the recent award of a grant that she was awarded from the Minnesota State Arts Board. She will be visiting Ireland this summer where she will be playing and studying at a traditional harp festival and also participating in private instruction and competitions. It is a well-deserved honor! And that's no blarney!

Have a good day all!

Sandi

Minnesota Music Man

Last Thursday, our church women's group (from St. Paul's UCC in Henderson) took a little field trip to the Crystal Homewood Studio and we had the most wonderful afternoon. One of our member's, Carole, had learned of this wonderful organ and arranged for us to go see it. Beautiful, isn't it? It has been lovingly cared for by the Crawford family who treated us to the most musical and relaxing afternoon of entertainment.

And, of course, there's a story behind it which Lawrence Crawford, whom I have dubbed "Minnesota Music Man", shared with us.........

The organ was originally installed at the Homewood Theatre in Minneapolis. The console of the organ is from the St. George Theatre in Staten Island, New York built in 1929. This was no little house organ. This was an organ that did justice to early movies and what a beautiful sound it has. We were treated to a tour of the chambers where the pipes are.....1700 of them! And while we were taking a "look see" at the pipes, guess what was playing?.......think hard............

That's right! It was Phantom of the Opera. I have never heard it played as if the Phantom might actually have been at the keyboard!! What a sound!!

We were also treated to the delicate tunes played on these beautiful music boxes. I really liked the organ but I loved these music boxes. The music was lovely and it was like being transported to another decade - make that century - just to listen to the tunes they played.

We learned that there would be more music boxes at an event that was held this past Sunday in Henderson. Five bandwagons pulled into Henderson and parked around the Community Building and then up the hill to the Sibley County Historical Society. Music was playing in each of these and the sound of the old time caliope made one think that the circus had come to town!
This one had the best music...........

but this one was good, too, and the conductor was in fine form to the music on this one......

Can you hear the drums? This one was really pretty..................

and this one was very patriotic. That's the Poehler House in the background, which is home to the Sibley County Historical Society.

This one had such beautiful paintings in the panels to each side and below the pipes. The owner had a Minnesota artist custom paint the scenes to represent landscapes in Minnesota.

There were music boxes on display inside the house and so much more. There were lots of quilts and the room with all the military uniforms was very interesting. If you are in town, go see it and if it's not open, find someone who can give you a tour!

On a "quilty" note ....... yep, pun intended :-) ......... I had to set aside my pink and green quilt strips for the Old Red Barn quilt project and am working on a "Snips and Snails and Puppy dog tails" baby boy quilt. It's not really a quilt as it's just flannel and fleece. It's a Quibble™, which is the name I have decided to give to my creations that are "patchwork and could be a quilt but can't because they don't have batting". You know what I mean. I'll be sure to post photos when it's finished. It must go away to it's new owner by Sunday so you'll see it soon.

That's all for now.........

Sandi