That's what our house is feeling like these days. :-) Most of you probably know we have an antique potbelly stove in our living room, and a few months ago we acquired an antique pump organ. For my 16th birthday, Oma gave me her old typewriter. Since then we have also been the recipients of various more-or-less antique office supplies like staplers, etc. via Opa, along with another typewriter and a treadle sewing machine. Throw in an antique lace collar and a few old books ranging in topic from stationery etiquette to old folk songs, and you almost have a complete collection worthy of opening a museum.
We weren't satisfied with almost. *wink*
Maybe you remember our post about going to Old World Wisconsin with the Strands, and seeing a very neat old piano. Turns out, a family from our church had one and wanted to get rid of it. Wellll.... that's hardly a deal to pass up, right? It wasn't in great shape so we had it restrung and fixed up a bit. The finish is still a bit scratched and worn, but that's alright. "Distressed" furniture is worth lots - why shouldn't distressed instruments have the same worth?
Here are some photos from moving the piano in - thanks Jonathan & Joseph!
One big truck for one (sort of) little piano... but that's another story...
The legs attach with big wooden screws
Upright!
This is the pretty music stand. It's very delicate so we have to be careful not to put too heavy of a book up there.
They don't make 'em like this anymore! It has neat black and gold painting inside.
We had to wait a while after it was moved in to get the keys (the man who fixed it didn't want it moved with the keys). Now we have them and it's playable! It's terribly out of tune though... he's coming to tune it again in a couple weeks, thankfully!
Oh yeah, did you want to see it with keys?
Here's the one at Old World Wisconsin - pretty similar, eh?
This year's Do-It-Yourself Messiah was a bittersweet experience; almost like the end of an era. Doesn't that sound dramatic? This year many traditions were broken; our group from church was MUCH smaller; no private train car; no singing on the way home (because that might disturb the other people with whom we were obliged to share the car); no dressing up extra formal; and most importantly, no opera house.
Yes, the folks who put on this event every year must have run out of funds and abandoned the beautiful, gold-gilded, velvet-carpeted halls of the Civic Opera House for the... ummmm... unique ambience of the Harris Theater. How do you like the change??
We still enjoyed the train ride with friends. L to R: Tara, Kristen, Emily, Yours Truly.
The lobby area (is there a better word than "lobby" that I am not thinking of??) of the opera house - beautiful, isn't it?
Well, well... enough griping about the new facility. I think you get the picture. Everyone write and demand they have it at the opera house again (send money with your letter and they might listen!!!).
Part of the alto section
The principal cellist who is there every year. She gets so into the music, it's fun to watch!
Sisters, sisters...
Even if the Harris Theater can't compare to the opera house, the evening was still very enjoyable as always. The soloists were all pretty good; we always like Tamara Matthews (soprano), the alto isn't our favorite but she has a great attitude. :-) The bass was good, but a little "bouncy" and desperately needed a haircut (want to see what I mean? Watch the video below). And the tenor was so handsome and youthful *inside joke*. :-)
Here's an example of the bass's very bouncy and forceful nature. :-) It's terrible but Laura, Kristen, Emily & I were all seized with a fit of the giggles during this song. In his defense, it would be very hard for any of us NOT to bounce a little bit to this song! Despite the entertaining aspect of this video, watch it to the end because he does a fantastic ending with a ridiculously low note that sounds GREAT!
All in all, I think we are all looking forward to next year!
Last weekend Tara got an early birthday present from Opa and Oma. The rest of us, who were in on the secret, watched with knowing smiles as she unwrapped her gift...
It's a PANFLUTE!
Everyone has to try it out!
For several years now Tara's dream has been to play the panflute, ever since we saw a video of a Dutch panflutist, Noortje van Middelkoop (say that ten times fast). So this year, Opa and Oma decided to surprise her and get the panflute for her birthday. Tara was completely clueless and that night we were even casually talking about panflutes. :-)
Tara has been playing it almost nonstop since she got it and is getting pretty good at it already. I'm sure there will be video to follow. It sounds very pretty with the harp so we've been having fun figuring out duets!
For my part, I really enjoy this instrument because it makes really cool photos. LOL!
