The music room was important to this family. I was sitting here many years ago when Rick’s mother told about giving gifts to family members. Her three children were encouraged to give a performance for special occasions. For her birthday, she would be thrilled to have a memorized piece of music played for her or a poem recited from memory. These were creative people who fostered creativity.
Rick talked about the old pump organ. The player used his feet to pump the bellows for the air going through the pipes. Picking up a modern violin, he said that years ago a visitor had come to stay while traveling with his Stradivarious. That was high class, indeed!
He called attention to the medallion on the ceiling. Most old ones were made of plaster, but you can probably guess that the one here was carved of wood and painted to look like plaster.
At the end of the tour, we ended up in the new section that connects the main building with the kitchen. When the house was built, kitchens were usually detached for fire safety. Rick and Myra made a stage under the back stairs, seen here with Chris and Chrissie posing before his instruments from all over the world. I’m convinced Rick could take any unknown instrument and play it reasonably well in a matter of days. What amazing talent! Two of my favorites are the hammered dulcimer and the musical saw. The saw is longer than one used in construction, but its teeth would be just as effective. Myra accompanies him on the piano for that. Rick’s dad taught him to play the saw, and also taught my brother. I tried, and I can’t do it.
In her travels, daughter Lise bought an unusual instrument for Rick which he can play easily. I think it may be the one that he is blowing into below. Information overload had kicked in.
Here are three of the newer instruments.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a video of Rick playing the instrument he made himself. It is by far the most amusing one. It’s called the Bed Panjo, held here by Chris. It’s a real bed pan with fingerboard and strings attached. Good humor is a hallmark of this family.
Mehrling Muse 