Pianos And
More December 27, 2007
Patricia Young Henry may possibly have achieved the impossible;
she successfully directed a diverse group of talented pianists and other
musicians in a performance that exceeded the expectations of everyone present.
Many of us may have had our doubts that her latest presentation could possibly
rival that of the group she directed about a year and a half ago, but those
doubts were erased well before the final musical number was performed Thursday
evening, December 27th, at First Baptist Church, Pontotoc.
Admirably, in her opening remarks, Patricia dedicated the program to her
former teacher, Miss Vera Salmon, whom Patricia described as, "the backbone
to the music of our community."
For a small town, Pontotoc has been blessed with a large number of gifted
pianists, so certainly Patricias assessment of the role of Miss Vera
is appropriate. In my estimation, the seeds of music sown by Miss Vera, have
multiplied a hundred-fold and much more, but to date the most fertile ground
in which those seed were sown have been in the life of Patricia Henry, who
is in her fifty-seventh year as a piano teacher. Of the performers Thursday
night, forty-one were either present students or former students of Patricia.
I dont have the musical training to judge the difficulty of the pieces
played last Thursday against those in the prior program, nor can I say that
those who played this year were more technically correct in their playing,
but I can say the more recent performance was more grandiose of the two.
More instruments were used on this occasion: six pianos, six keyboards, two
flutes, a pipe organ, a clarinet and some percussion instruments. More performers
spanning multiple generations were engaged, amounting to a total of sixty-five
individuals. And, the musicians played to a packed house with standing room
only, after extra chairs were placed in the
balcony and on the main floor.
The program entitled, "Christmas Celebration on Pianos and More," was comprised
of eleven holiday themed selections and two numbers Patricia described as
"not Christmas music, but we liked them."
Additionally, prior to the main program, many of the more junior of the talented
players set the tone for the evening with renditions of Deck the Halls
and Jingle Bells. Working from this base, Patricia masterfully
wove these and others into the thirteen musical selections and rotated the
performers among the many pianos and keyboards. On most selections, there
were two players on each piano and often two on each of the larger keyboards,
but for a few numbers as many as three players shared a piano or keyboard.
Patricia noted on the program a group called the Grande Ensemble (fifteen
pianists: Rayanne Adams*, Maggie Arnold, Terri Blissard, Lynn Brady, Beverly
Clement*, Alma Jo Henry, Patricia Henry, Ginger Holland, Jerri Lamar Kantack,
Terrena Kyle, Littie Long, Stephanie Long, Mitzi Russell, Jenae Weeks, and
Mignon Williamson*; asterisk denotes guest performers not living in Pontotoc).
At the end of the rehearsal on Wednesday, Patricia asked me my favorite
selection.
"I have two or three favorites," I replied, glancing at the program draft
Rayanne had given me. "I liked this Brazileira or whatever its called,
and Sleighride and of course Christmas Chopsticks."
Christmas Chopsticks is a medley of Christmas tunes thats fun to both
hear and watch being played. Patricia told the Thursday night audience that
she first heard the selection at the Christmas program presented by First
Baptist Church, Jackson, MS, in 2006. And, remembering how everyone who heard
the program she presented a year and a half ago had asked, "When are you
going to do another one?" she was inspired.
"It took me six months and the help of First Baptist Pontotocs very
first educational director, Clarice Mooney, to track down the person who
had the music," Patricia shared.
A dozen pianists played Christmas Chopsticks on six pianos, maintaining
impeccable timing and precision with their respective parts. And, tossing
in a bit of showmanship by each pair of pianists exchanging bench positions
twice during the performance, this added all the more excitement for the
audience, who stood and applauded long and loudly and were rewarded with
a short encore of the final selection. It was an evening that wont
soon be forgotten by the six hundred or so in attendance.
The Pontotoc Music Study Club, with the help of member Patricia Henry, is
to be commended for its efforts in providing a fitting finale for
Pontotocs many Christmas programs, this holiday season. First Baptist
Church was kind enough to provide their sanctuary to accommodate the expected
large crowd, and they also broadcast the performance on their cable TV channel.
In an earlier article encouraging the readership of this newsletter to make
plans to attend this special music program, I stated, "There are a number
of music programs scheduled in churches prior to Christmas that are sure
to please us, but I have the feeling the best can be seen at FBC, Pontotoc
on December 27," and for my part, Thursdays program was the best.
Belmont
Turnout To Hear Rayanne Play
The folks at First Baptist Church, Belmont, MS, are supportive of their
churchs music ministry, which includes a strong and vocally powerful
Adult Choir and a budding hand-bell program. My daughter, Rayanne Adams,
has served for the past few years as organist and occasionally fills in for
the pianist. From what I hear, the small church is quite proud of its organist,
and I wasnt surprised to learn the church planned to provide its church
van to transport a group who wanted to hear the Pontotoc piano program in
which their organist would be playing.
A few weeks ago, Rayanne phoned her mother to ask about possibly using our
home to entertain those traveling to Pontotoc from Belmont to hear her play.
"I just thought about it," she shared. "They wont have time to eat
anything before they leave Belmont, and rather than having to stop somewhere
to eat on the way home, I think it would be a good idea to invite them over
to Mama and Daddys after the program."
Poor Barbara, she was caught between a rock and a hard place, not wanting
to disappoint Rayanne and getting our house ready immediately after the
anticipated wreck it would be in after Christmas Day when all our family
would be at home. Rayanne didnt get an okay, immediately, but after
considerable thought, Barbara relented, or was it more that she became resigned
to the fact that our hosting the troop from Belmont would go on with or without
her approval? After all, weve seldom been to a program at FBC, Belmont,
where we were not also fed afterwards. It seemed our chance to return the
favor.
I took a bad cold a week before Christmas and was knocked out of work for
three days prior to starting my Christmas Vacation. Luckily, mine was a head
cold, and it didnt go to my chest. However, after eight days I still
felt awful and all the last minute shopping I normally do was set aside.
Over the weekend prior to Christmas, I had enough energy to help clean some
long neglected areas, such as light fixtures and ceiling fans. I even dusted
the furniture and bookcases in our bedroom and polished several pieces of
brass.
My efforts were dramatic but minimal compared to all that Rayanne did starting
Christmas Day and lasting until almost time for the piano program Thursday
evening. She vacuumed, dusted, and rearranged the living room, completely
reorganized the kitchen pantry (something I had on my list, but she got to
it first), added Christmas decorations to the dining room, including a
spectacular centerpiece, and arranged a display in the top of the antique
Victrola.
A menu was established that included "fixins" for croissant sandwiches, a
vegetable tray with dip, smoked sausages, various party crackers and dips,
plenty of Christmas cakes, wassail and other beverages.
In the final days, I continued to ask Rayanne for updates on the expected
turnout.
"I dont know how many to expect, Daddy," she usually stated. "The church
van holds nine and others are planning to come in their vehicles."
Then, on the afternoon of the twenty-seventh, she reported there could be
as many as sixteen from Belmont. Imagine her surprise and mine when we arrived
at six-thirty for the program that started at seven and found the pews on
the main floor almost completely filled and two rows of pews were occupied
by her friends from Belmont.
We soon learned that more were in the balcony. Had I known exactly
how many out of town folks were there to support Rayanne, I might have worried
over whether we had prepared enough food for everyone.
I had printed Google maps with directions from the church to our house, which
Anson distributed prior to the start of the program. I had driven Rayanne
to the church in order for us to arrive earlier than the rest of our family,
but I gave Barbara my keys at the end of the program so she and Sarah could
leave early to get the refrigerated foods on the table. Somehow I managed
to locate Anson and caught a ride home with him.
"Oh me," I stated as we entered Dogwood circle and saw a half-dozen or more
vehicles parked in front of my house. "We may run a little short."
Entering the backdoor, I found myself standing in a house full of folks and
for the first time was worried more about space than food. Because time was
important for out-of-town guests, I hastened to gain their attention and
welcome them to our home. I asked them to make themselves at home as they
were free to sit or stand anywhere they could find a place and instructed
them to get their drinks in the kitchen.
Looking around the rooms filled with people, all friends or family of Rayanne,
I could sense they were as proud of her accomplishments as her mother and
I were. Many expressed their appreciation of her service to their church
and of her musical talent. I did my best to play the role of "proud parent,"
without overdoing it, as it was Rayannes night to shine, not mine.
The crowd started thinning out shortly after nine oclock. After our
guests had departed, I asked Rayanne to make a list of her family and friends
who had attended the program and/or came by our house.
Here are the results: Belmont 29; Pontotoc 7; Booneville
4; Senatobia 3; Oxford 2; Total 45
Of this number forty-two were at the reception at our house (includes my
immediate family). Of course, Im not certain, but I have a good idea
that, apart from Patricia Henry, few musical performers had greater family/
friend support present for the program than Rayanne.
I dont know what the Belmont folks had expected in the way of musical
entertainment, but Im certain they left with a greater appreciation
of their organist and the talents of the other musicians with Pontotoc roots.
And, Id like to think they found Rayannes parents hospitable.
New Year By
Carl Wayne Hardeman
RRNs friend and fellow scribe, Carl Wayne Hardeman shared the following:
"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let
each new year find you a better man." ~Benjamin Franklin
It's cold out in the wind, but much warmer than I remember it being in mid
winter in my younger days. I remember having snow every year and walking
barefoot five miles to and from school uphill and the wind blowing in my
face both ways.
Scientists claim global warming is causing weather extremes. That's good
when it means milder winters and lower utility bills, but not good when we
have hot dry summers with higher utility bills for water and air conditioning.
Today the cold wind is blowing off Smoke Top, the local high point on the
Pontotoc ridge system, across the wide fertile bottom land, originally called
Flatwoods, to Longview and the ridges which define the western edge of the
plain the Chickasaws once called home. The high point is 474 above sea level.
My in-laws, Ralph and Opal Graham, are snug in their warm home next to their
space heaters, staying warm and saving money. Growing up in the Great
Depression made them respect the value of each and every dime.
The dog house is on the south side of the house out of the wind and catching
the warm southern rays of sunshine. Their cats Tom and Snow are nestled in
warm blankets in the dog house. Lucky, their feist terrier, is either curled
up with Tom and Snow or in his bed in the living room near the heater.
Ralph and I have already begun this year's garden in our minds. The seed
catalogs have begun to arrive, tempting us with color pictures of giant tomatoes,
pumpkins and flowers. They never seem to live up to their promises. We have
decided on Better Boy, Early Girl, and BHN 640 tomatoes, with a few Marglobes
for old time flavor.
As with each of the last several years, we are planning to cut back, but
will set out more than we need just in case some don't do well. Again I will
order far more zinnia and sunflower seeds than I need, just in case. I want
at least one of every variety, especially Envy zinnias and giant red sunflowers.
It's a new year and I hope to be a better husband, father, son-in-law, brother,
citizen, employee, and gardener. The resolutions I have this year are the
same as the last few years: the Beatitudes. I seem to stumble on the one
about being meek. Maybe I can just be proud of my humility.
Bodock Beau A
Blonde's Year In Review
Happy New Year to all, and may your have a more successful one than one blonde.
January Took new scarf back to store because it was too tight.
February Fired from pharmacy job for failing to print
labels...Helllloooo...bottles won't fit in printer!
March Got really excited...finished jigsaw puzzle in 6 months....box
said "2-4 years!"
April Trapped on escalator for hours...power went out!
May Tried to make Kool-Aid...wrong instructions. 8 cups of water won't
fit into those little packets!
June Tried to go water skiing...couldn't find a lake with a slope.
July Lost breast stroke swimming competition ...learned later, the
other swimmers cheated, they used their arms!
August Got locked out of my car in rain storm...car swamped because
soft-top was open.
September The capital of California is "C"...isn't it?
October Hate M & M's...they are so hard to peel.
November Baked turkey for 4 1/2 days. Instructions said 1 hour per
pound and I weigh 108!!
December Couldn't call 911 "duh".....there's no "eleven" button
on the stupid phone!