It seems every time I read one of your pieces I discover something else we have in common. Kansas. Who knew? My great great grandfather was at one time an associate of John Brown (he disassociated after people were being killed) and helped Kansas in its effort to achieve statehood. My grandparents are buried there; my dad was born there. As a boomer I too love that era of music. Hard not to get out on the dance floor for an Earth Wind and Fire medley. 💃🏼
No abiding relatives in Kansas for us. Our brief tenure there was related to my father's work with Globe Furniture (apple/tree...). But, wow - love knowing that about your heritage! The middle sibling, with his hand in his pocket, was and is a total EWF-head. :) Anytime you want to pick up one of your instruments to play at a party, you'll have my undivided attention.
Ah, memories of music of my youth, and your writing had me reminiscing about THAT song that takes me back to being 13, at the beach.....https://youtu.be/5_pmKPWLBrE. Thanks for the trip.
A great essay, and useful links, too, as usual. Coincidentally, my first chord-instrument, the ukulele, I picked up at age 61, so that I could play When I’m 64 for Busy!
How fun is that?! I wondered about detouring toward the ukulele, thinking it might be easier and, therefore, more apt to stick. Sidebar: my oldest sibling was born in Hawai'i. One of the lessons I brought home after a visit there a decade or so ago, was that our American pronunciation of the instrument is all wrong. In the native language, it's "oo-koo lay-lay," which is delicious.
'If music be the food of love...' I play no instrument but like you was brought up by parents who were born in the 20's. My diet, like yours, was broad - opera, classics, wartime jazz, and then my own era of 60's and 70's pops.
Of all music that sparks my tears and my best memories - Lehar's Vjilia aria (Dad), Glory of Love (Mum) and Nat King Cole's Rambling Rose (both). There are many others but they're standouts.
But for some strange reason, if ever I hear Mantovani's liquid violins, I have the most wonderful memories of weekend drives as a child with Dad and Mum. Odd, that one...
I attend classical ballet class weekly and we have direct-drive classics piped through the sound system - my grey matter thrives on the melodies and movement - extreme neuroplasticity. And currently, like an earworm, I'm stuck on the Basilio Variation from Don Q.
Thank you taking me on a wonderful musical jaunt (with tears...)
"...play on!" (I actually had a bit part in a production of 12th Night around the same time many of these musical memories were being formed.) Thank you for naming all of the pieces that come to mind for you, Prue. I went out into Googleland to have a listen to each of them. Pure delight! You may have seen this before, and it will do nothing to help your earworm, but probably worth the risk all the same.
Hi Elizabeth! I knew something was off this week and realized I hadn't read your column. Every time I saw the title in my emails I'd sing that line of the song. ..."stowin' away the time"?
Aww, the Scratch-habit! -- Er...ew. Now, that sounds wholly unappealing - like something that might lead to the next line of that Steely Dan song. Lol. Thanks for chiming in, Kathy!
Thank you for this, a lovely read. I didn't grow up in a musical family at all, in fact we didn't even have a record player until I was about 12 (1967) so I missed a lot. My parents were into the balladeers of the time - Jim Reeves, The Bachelors etc etc. I came into my musical own in the 70s, so the artists that have stayed a lifetime - Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Rait, Santana, Chicago, Free - are pretty much the 70s archetypes and all the moments of the adolescence. Like you, I played piano for a while but don't now - sometimes I wish I did, but not often. Reading this did get me reeling' in the years...
Sounds like your musical own has worked out quite well, June. I didn't include Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt in my links, but they are top of the list of loved artists for me, too. Hope your trip down memory lane brought a smile. Appreciate the comment. :)
Great words.... And I may comment further later.... but right now I'm listening to 50s Doo-wop music and staying young....
I can picture your dance moves, Barry! Keep it up!
It seems every time I read one of your pieces I discover something else we have in common. Kansas. Who knew? My great great grandfather was at one time an associate of John Brown (he disassociated after people were being killed) and helped Kansas in its effort to achieve statehood. My grandparents are buried there; my dad was born there. As a boomer I too love that era of music. Hard not to get out on the dance floor for an Earth Wind and Fire medley. 💃🏼
P.S. Does accordion, organ and a smidge of guitar and banjo work instead of piano? 😉
No abiding relatives in Kansas for us. Our brief tenure there was related to my father's work with Globe Furniture (apple/tree...). But, wow - love knowing that about your heritage! The middle sibling, with his hand in his pocket, was and is a total EWF-head. :) Anytime you want to pick up one of your instruments to play at a party, you'll have my undivided attention.
Reminds me fondly of my mother and her piano. Thanks so much,
Tom
The memories run deep, don't they?
Ah, memories of music of my youth, and your writing had me reminiscing about THAT song that takes me back to being 13, at the beach.....https://youtu.be/5_pmKPWLBrE. Thanks for the trip.
Diana!! What an icon. I have to ask: What beach? :)
Peconic - Peconic Bay, my 'home' beach.
A great essay, and useful links, too, as usual. Coincidentally, my first chord-instrument, the ukulele, I picked up at age 61, so that I could play When I’m 64 for Busy!
How fun is that?! I wondered about detouring toward the ukulele, thinking it might be easier and, therefore, more apt to stick. Sidebar: my oldest sibling was born in Hawai'i. One of the lessons I brought home after a visit there a decade or so ago, was that our American pronunciation of the instrument is all wrong. In the native language, it's "oo-koo lay-lay," which is delicious.
Oh I love this essay.
'If music be the food of love...' I play no instrument but like you was brought up by parents who were born in the 20's. My diet, like yours, was broad - opera, classics, wartime jazz, and then my own era of 60's and 70's pops.
Of all music that sparks my tears and my best memories - Lehar's Vjilia aria (Dad), Glory of Love (Mum) and Nat King Cole's Rambling Rose (both). There are many others but they're standouts.
But for some strange reason, if ever I hear Mantovani's liquid violins, I have the most wonderful memories of weekend drives as a child with Dad and Mum. Odd, that one...
I attend classical ballet class weekly and we have direct-drive classics piped through the sound system - my grey matter thrives on the melodies and movement - extreme neuroplasticity. And currently, like an earworm, I'm stuck on the Basilio Variation from Don Q.
Thank you taking me on a wonderful musical jaunt (with tears...)
"...play on!" (I actually had a bit part in a production of 12th Night around the same time many of these musical memories were being formed.) Thank you for naming all of the pieces that come to mind for you, Prue. I went out into Googleland to have a listen to each of them. Pure delight! You may have seen this before, and it will do nothing to help your earworm, but probably worth the risk all the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbPBFHhnpNc
Hi Elizabeth! I knew something was off this week and realized I hadn't read your column. Every time I saw the title in my emails I'd sing that line of the song. ..."stowin' away the time"?
Aww, the Scratch-habit! -- Er...ew. Now, that sounds wholly unappealing - like something that might lead to the next line of that Steely Dan song. Lol. Thanks for chiming in, Kathy!
Thank you for this, a lovely read. I didn't grow up in a musical family at all, in fact we didn't even have a record player until I was about 12 (1967) so I missed a lot. My parents were into the balladeers of the time - Jim Reeves, The Bachelors etc etc. I came into my musical own in the 70s, so the artists that have stayed a lifetime - Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Rait, Santana, Chicago, Free - are pretty much the 70s archetypes and all the moments of the adolescence. Like you, I played piano for a while but don't now - sometimes I wish I did, but not often. Reading this did get me reeling' in the years...
Sounds like your musical own has worked out quite well, June. I didn't include Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt in my links, but they are top of the list of loved artists for me, too. Hope your trip down memory lane brought a smile. Appreciate the comment. :)
Good morning Elizabeth! Love this piece!!! Look for some of your favorites (I think I found them all ) in my 4th of July playlist! ❤️🎼
You are delightful! I can't wait to hear it! Thanks, Diana.