Editorial: Get Out and Enjoy The Music, Culture and History of Manchester
submitted by Jim Horton, Riverfolk Music & Arts Boardmember
Our culture has become a blaze of medias grasping for our attention. We have so many forces pulling us, and blasting in our ears that it is no wonder there is so much craziness going on. I am finding a Thursday night in Manchester brings my blood pressure down. To find peace in the noise of the world, is becoming rare and valued. If you recognize the benefits of a small town, you know what I am talking about. There are people here that make this a historic, artistic and fun place to live and visit.
Perhaps one of the “Jewels of the crown” is the Manchester Area Historical Society. The MAHS “Passport to Manchester” program, currently still in progress, is one of those treats. It brings local, everyday locations into living history. For example, this morning we were on a local agri-farm tour. The locations were the Bross and Horning Farms. It was fascinating to learn of the challenges that face farmers today. The knowledge of technology, combined with dedication of the labor involved is daunting.
On the historical end of it, I learned that Bethel Church Road was a Native American (Potawatamie) trail. It branched off from the Sauk Trail (US-12). and continued out to the Sharon area. This inspires my imagination that the gravel road I am driving on, was traversed on foot for how many years? Pioneer settlers used the trail to get to the rich land left by the glaciers. Multi-generations of folks have pioneered and farmed this area, and they are still doing so today.
Other “Passport” events have brought local experts to talk, tour and even have lunches provided by Fresh Forage. Each event has provided live music, appropriate to the setting. This morning had the well-known Mark and Carol Palms and fiddler Aaron Jonah Lewis giving us not only foot-tapping string band tunes, but historical background. Every event gets a stamp in a passport booklet and is a souvenir of this point in time. Go to the web pages and find out more.
Riverfolk is another home-grown organization that is focused on the cultural enrichment, education and enjoyment of the arts. It has survived the pandemic shut-downs, thanks mostly to board member Aileen Rohwer as she used modern technology and the generous donations of many individuals to still enrich the area with a diverse range of streamed musical concerts.
As things are shifting back to live events, we have been blessed with the summer Gazebo concert series. There are still some weeks to enjoy, and if you live in the area, turn off the electronic devices and come out. Compare the difference of live entertainment to that which is canned.
This is not to frown on the great resources of the world we all take advantage of, but when you are outside, on the grass, in a lawn-chair, and you watch the sun make its way to setting, you might close your eyes and be transformed. You might find yourself back in time when this was a rare treat. Live music was so valued by our ancestors. Making music, was really one of the few ways people had entertainment. We can trace the evolution in our own culture. If we step back in time, first there was radio. To bring the world to your living room was an astounding revolution. Recordings followed and then onwards to television (the electronic campfire) and the digital age.
Where are we now? I am mystified when shown how some folks are listening to music these days. It is a commercial commodity. “De gustibus non desputandum” (in taste there is no dispute) as my father used to say. Sometimes, lost in the maze is artistry. quality, musicianship, historic background, expertise, and use of tools that takes years to master gets lost. We have to almost seek the underbelly of our culture to find these treasures. Fortunately, they are evident at a live Gazebo concert. The same with the Blacksmith concert series as it starts up again this fall. Look for the hand-printed posters that announce these events.
Just locally, we have some really special people. Away from the hype and glitz of celebrity entertainment, we have artists like Gemily (the Slomovits family). Gemily gives us a diverse palette of everything from folk to Broadway. Robert Jones and Matt Watroba gave us a reminder of our Civil Rights movement. Who can forget Peter Madcat Ruth as he wails his harp? Aaron Jonah Lewis is a living history lesson. Abigail Stauffer and Dave Haughey gave us a look into contemporary acoustic music with amazing virtuosity. The Kerrytown Stompers had everyone’s feet tapping. The Dodsworth Saxhorn Band is a wonderful time-warp, yet still relevant today. These are all of a different genre, yet all are fascinating examples of their niche. We have to thank Carol Palms for arranging such diversity. We have blues one week, traditional folk the next, singer-songwriter, the next, then band music, and it is all good in its own way. Last week swing dancers broke out while the ragtime music was playing. I saw an amazing “Lindy Hop”! Go to the Riverfolk Facebook page, and catch what you may have missed.
These Gazebo concerts are free. Yes, they pass the hat, but no one puts any pressure or expectations on that. Mostly people are just happy to be there. Even the musicians remark on how appreciative they are to be back playing live, They love the park setting. This is America that while a small quiet corner, fortunately still exists. Come on out on a Thursday night…bring your dogs, your kids, your picnic basket, and hey, sit a spell. Half of the entertainment is watching the kids run around. You can turn them loose and know they are safe. You can’t do that in a lot of places now. Somehow, I get the feeling I might sit here twenty years from now and things wouldn’t be that different. People here still value their history and there are people that take the time and energy to bring it to you. That is a real gift.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login