What mementoes?

Subject: What mementoes?
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 09:51 PM

While chitter chatting with Stilly River Sage on another thread today, I thought of another topic. Perhaps it will prove to be interesting. At the age of 164, I have outlived many of my music friends. For some reason, I always have had the good sense, at that time of grief, to request some little token of that friend. I have a small, but growing, collection of capos, ties, walrus tooths, coffee cups (thanks again Maggie), etc. Here's the question: Have you also saved little tokens of music friends now gone ... and what have you treasured? CHEERS Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: What mementoes?
From: 53
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 09:55 PM

at the age of 164 i'd say you've outlived a lot of music people,and a lot of other people also, boy what vitamins do you take?

Subject: RE: What mementoes?
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 09:58 PM

HEY ... I'm just gettin' started. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: What mementoes?
From: 53
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 10:00 PM

boy i'd say you are, viagara must of really helped.

Subject: RE: What mementoes?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 01:13 AM

Funny, I don't remember the Viagra ads promoting that kind of longevity. . .

Anyway, preserving music, in all that this implies (written word, tapes, records, etc.), is something that I know Deckman has been doing, by storing materials from deceased singing friends. The mnemonic device, the capo or tuning fork, is a key for each of us to rich memories of these individuals and the songs they collected and sang. The trick is to do something with the memories and materials so they become resources. I have boxes and boxes of stuff to organize of my father's. When I eventually turn that over to a university special collection, I'll keep the tuning fork for myself.

P.S. I thought Bob was only 133.

Subject: RE: What mementoes?
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 01:29 AM

What a marvelous idea, Bob. It never occured to me; I may start doing it. What I have always wondered is what happens to my friends (and my) instruments. Most families of my muscian friends are all non musicians. I hate to see good instruments just packed in a closet, but it would be very rude in my opinion to even ask what will happen to it, let alone ask FOR the instrument.

Subject: RE: What mementoes?
From: Deckman
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 04:01 AM

One of my treasures belonged to the late Lauren Jakey. He was a classical musician, concert violinist, symphony orchestra conductor. We were best friends since we were five. He died in California eleven years ago. I was offered any mementos and I chose to take his orchestra baton. Not the brand new one that was still in it's case, but rather the one he used daily to reherse the orchestra. It is very scarred and nicked from tapping the music stand to make corrections to the orchestra. It reminds me, daily, of the perfectionist he was, and the need to "get it right." CHEERS, Bob