Musical Moments in the Family : Sepia Saurday

This week's Sepia Saturday  prompt photograph shows a man at a piano.   I felt sure there was a photograph of me playing the piano, but no - it was not to be found, just this inanimate piano shot below. 

Take a look at interior decoration in Edinburgh  c.1968 - obviously  Christmas judging by the hanging lanterns and Christmas cards on the piano.  The picture on the wall had a recessed frame with a light above it. I remember my mother painting the walls  peach, or were they orange?  But must admit I cannot recollect the other side of the archway being green.

 

Below the story of  the piano in my family life:

 On my mother's part, she always wanted to play the piano and I got the impression that she was rather  aggrieved that her older sister Edith learned to play (she became a teacher), and her much younger sister Peggy did - but Mum missed out.  So she was determined that I had the chance, and the piano, complete with candlestick holders, was transported  from my grandfather's house to our cold front room, which only had a fire on for special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas - not conducive to nimble fingers across the keyboard!

One of my worst childhood experiences, at the age of 12, was   to take part in a local musical festival - I hated it, but reckoned the adjudicator must have felt worse,  having to listen to  us children playing (or murdering) the same piano ipece of music over and over again. I vowed never to go through that again. 

I didn't  progress beyond Grade 3 as we moved house across country and I never took up lessons again, but the love  of music stayed with me.  And my limited piano playing ability  (for hymns, community singing and party games) did come in useful in applying for a job as a school auxiliary. 

 

We weren't a particularly musical family, but my mother sang in the Townswomen's Guild Choir and my father sang in the church choir.  Radio & TV  programmes such as "Melodies for You, 100 Best Tunes, Friday Night is Music Night  and Songs of Praise  - were regulars we listened  to or watched.  

 

My parents and aunt were the people I have to thank for making music so much a  part of my life from an early age, introducing me to musicals, operetta and ballet (my most favourite art form).  I was lucky to grow up in Blackpool, Lancashire which  had regular touring companies to the Opera House and Grand Theatre.  

 

 I loved "The Gypsy Baron" and wanted  a gypsy costume and headdress with long coloured ribbons  - the nearest I got was full skirt  trimmed with rows of ccoloured  ric rac.  My first ballet was "Coppelia" - an ideal choice for a little girl with the feisty heroine in a lovely pale blue tutu,  the handsome hero - and more folk dances.  

 

 My father in "Memories of his Broseley Boyhood" recalled:

 "We had a “palace” organ double keyboard, Mum was very musical and Dad, who so far as I know, had never had a music lesson, played in Coalbrookdale Brass Band, he could also play the violin.  From time to time Mum would play the organ on a Sunday night and Dad the violin - hymns from the "Ancient & Modern " hymnbook. There was one unusual feature about his, he never asked for a number but the nzme of the tune e.g.  Bishopthorpe etc."

 

 

 My paternal grandparents - Mary & Albert Weston

  

The family were keen churchgoers.  Eldest son Fred sang in the choir at St. Mark's 's Church, Warwick and my father sang in the church at Broseley. Shropshire and later at St. Chad's Church, Poulton-le-Fylde. Lancashire  where I was baptized. 

Broseley Church, Shropshire where my father sang in the  choir from 7 years old.  

My uncle - Fred Weston, as a choir boy.

 
Singing in a choir (school, church, community)  has been a key activity throughout my life from primary school days onwards, whether it was folk songs from round the world, spirituals, carols, sacred music, opera and operetta choruses,   or songs from the shows - musical tastes that still mean a lot to me today. I was very happy to be a chorus girl, with no pretensions to be a soloist - I knew my limitations!

 

The  highlight of my university year was to take part in  a Gilbert & Sullivan opera -  I loved it the music, the staging, the costumes and the friendships.  I sang with my local choir the Roxburgh Singers  for over 40 years until I felt it was time to retire my voice!

 

 

 

It is a marvelous form of music making, whatever your age, a great creator of the "feel good factor",  and there is nothing to beat singing with the full blooded accompaniment of an an orchestra or  organ.  For me the highlight was probably singing Handel's wonderful uplifting oratorio "The Messiah".  

 

Family history research unearthed more musical connections.  

 

 I discovered in a local paper  that my Great Uncle George  (a favourite  of my mother and aunt), also sang in the choir at St. Chad's Church, Poulton. He was killed  on the Somme in 1916 at the age of 22, 

 

               
 

                                    

 I always knew from my father that his maternal grandfather John Matthews (above)  was a staunch Methodist,  but had not delved further into researching this aspect.  Then as a result of my blog, I was amazed  to receive an e-mail from a Matthews connection through marriage;  moreover with  the wish to give family treasures to a direct descendant.  As a result I received a   silver trowel and baton presented to John in recognition of his service to the church, plus the family bible with information on his ten  children. 

 

 Below is the silver crested baton  presented to John Matthews in 1904 in his role as conductor of the choir. 

 

The tiny inscription reads:  Presented to John Matthews by the Choir and Congregation of Wesleyan Chapel, Ladymoor:  28.11.04.

 

To hold the baton used by my great grandfather was a delight to me, as the love of choral music  has continued down through the family.  

 

Classical music continues to play an important in my life  through daily listening to Classic FM on the radio  and the marvel of DVDs - a love my husband shars - and it all began with learning to play the piano over 70 years ago.  

****************

Sepia Saturday gives bloggers an opportunity to share 
their family history and memories through photographs.  

Click HERE to see more musical posts  from Sepia Saturday bloggers. 

***********************