Collectors Perform Old Music LINDA WILLIAMS Bedford Co. Correspondent BEDFORD (Bedford Co.) Maynard and Sara Johnson of Cincinnati, Ohio were among the participants in the first annual Maynard Johnson plays the recorder. Old Bedford Village Colonial Crafts Fair. While some collect antique guns, jewelry, or fine china, the Johnsons collect and perform old music. The couple met in college and have always shared a love for music with Sara playing the hammered dulcimer and the kit fiddle as well as occasional cit tern, a mandolin-like instrument. Maynard plays the cello, record ers, and tin whistles. During the 18th century, tin whistles were wooden and known as flageolets. Maynard read that in Ger many in the 18th century, the most common ensemble was a dulcimer, cello, and fiddle. The cello was used the way a bass is used today. End pins to hold the cello in.place had not as yet been invented so they held them be tween their knees. Maynard is making up his technique as he goes along by reading and study ing old paintings. Sara is the publisher of a series of tune collections, “The Kitchen Musician’s Occasional,” written for dulcimer, fiddle, mandolin and other folk instruments. The Johnsons began playing for contra dance and square dance groups about 10 years ago. One of their friends, a caller, was an 18th century re-enactor, who was planning to be a dance mas ter and needed musicians. Help ing them to get attire and music together, he planted a seed which has grown into a giant’s bean stalk. Five years ago, they met fid dler Michael Thompson, a violin maker who has been making in struments by hand in the 18th century traditional manner. Thompson joined the Johnsons in their music reenactments and demonstrations. Like the John sons he enjoys researching old music and discovered the kit fid dles, the small dancing master in struments, so popular in the 18th century and began building them. His kid fiddles are sold in Coloni Lancaster FjM^mg al Williamsburg at the post office just as they were in the days when this Virginia city was the American colony capitoi. Michael also plays for a variety of dance groups doing contra dance, English country dance, and vintage dances, such as re gency style ballroom dancing. Years of playing traditional and dance music has enabled this Ohio couple to accumulate a lot of tune collections. “We were fascinated to ding that many of the tunes, which are virtually unchanged from being played 200 years ago,” said Sara who does research at the Library of Congress to acquire informa tion and tunes. The couple also has photocopies of about 10 com monplace books from the 18th century. “These were personal tune col lections written down by people who were fiddlers and filers in the Revolutionary era,” Sara “Old tunes” played on the violin are typical of the pop hits of the 17705-1780 s. said. “They included a man who was Washington’s dentist, and another who was a ship’s fid dler.” “We figure that if most of them were playing and writing down the same tunes, and those tunes were also in the music books of the era, they must be ‘pop hits.’ So, you could say we were playing pop hits of the ‘7os and ‘Bos the 1770 s and 1780 s,” that is,” Maynard said. “At historic reenactments such as the 18th century event at Old Bedford Village, the Johnsons at tire ranges from the 1770’s to the 1800’s but can squeak by as earlier period to the French and Indian War. Gradually the cou ple acquired attire from the later periods as they played in the Ohio River Valley, which was set tled in 1788 through the War of 1812. The Johnsons participate in events leading up to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial and Ohio’s statehood in 1803. The Johnsons participate an nually at the Century Trade Fair near Springfield, Ohio, one at Dayton, and at the Mountain Craft Days in Somerset. Occa sionally they travel to Valley Forge for concerts and play with a friend at one of the colonial taverns in old Williamsburg. Sara’s interest in colonial music led her to develop her own website at members.aol.com/ kitchiegal/smokepage.html Some of the research she has done led her to the famous old Revolutionary War patriotic song “Yankee Doodle.” The tune has been claimed by many different countries. There’s a reaper’s song in Holland, a vintners’s song in France, and similar tunes in Spain, Italy, and Hungary. Possi bly, it reached England from Hol land before the reign of Charles I. “Yankee Doodle” appeared as a nursery rhyme about Oliver Cromwell. The word “doodle” re fers to a sorry trifling fellow. Yankee Doodle was so popular that more and more verses were written until they totaled 190. There is a country dance to “Yankee Doodle.” Captain George Bush recorded it in his personal notebook of fiddle tune, copied from a now lost fife tutor printed in 1776 in Philadelphia. That copy is the first evidence known for an American printing before 1794. George Bush was a young offi cer in the Continental Army and left no descendents, not even our George Dubya. However, the Bush family kept his notebook until 1990 when they donated it to the Historical Society of Dela ware. Captain Bush carried his Ad dle with him on his travels and in 1779 began collecting song lyrics, dance figures, and tunes in a pocket notebook. Finding old tunes can be a fas Michael Thompson shows a visitor how to make an 18th century vio lin. cinating hobby and many of the lyrics simply prove that “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” This little ditty is an example: “ON MUSICK” Musicks a Crochet the Sober think it Vain the Fiddles a Wooding Pro jection Tunes are but flights of a whimsical brain Which the bottle brings best to parfection Musicians are half wilted merry and madd And those are the same that admire them They’re fools if they pley un less their well paid And the others are block heads to hire them! Available to purchase at the Christmas in July sale, clockwise from left, are a turn of the century German bisque 30-inch Heinrich Handwerck 99; the doll with the plaid hat and red bow is another turn of the century bisque, 25-inch Simon and Halbig 1249 “Santa,” A 10; 1920’s German bisque Kewpie copy righted by Rose O’Neil, and a 21-inch 1950’s hard plastic “Nanette” by Arranbee, an American doll company. It’s *Christmas In July ’ Doll Show And Sale HAMILTON SQUARE, NJ. The 24th annual “Christmas In July,” Central Jersey’s popular and unique summertime doll show and sale, returns to Hamilton Township (Mercer County) on Sunday, July 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Angeloni’s Cedar Gardens on Route 33. Sponsored by the Delaware Valley Doll Club of New Jersey, this event traditionally features a vast array of dolls, doll arti facts and toys. More than 55 dealers from throughout the coun try will be exhibiting and selling antique dolls, modem dolls, doll furniture, doll clothes, books and doll accessories. Collectors will have over 120 tables to peruse to find that spe cial doll for their collection. The doll show also features teddy bears as well as sampling of antiques and collectible toys. Club President Donna Rovner, Robbinsville, believes the show’s popularity may be due to the well-known doll celebrities who attend. For example, featured among this year’s partici pants are Barbie expert and author A. Glenn Mandeville of Bor dentown, N.J.; internationally known porcelain doll artist Jody Abrams of Cream Ridge, N.J.; renown antique dealer Roxanne LeMay Morison of Flourtown; and Joy Harrington of Yardley, who specializes in antiques and primitives. Those lucky collectors who win a door prize will be pleasantly surprised at this year’s numerous offerings. Lunch and snacks are available for those who plan to spend the day shopping and/ or reliving their childhood through the beautiful dolls and toys they can view or add to their collection. Admission to “Christmas In July” is $4.50 per person. Proceeds from this annual doll show and sale benefit the Del aware Valley Doll Club’s charitable activities. Hamilton Township is easily accessible in New Jersey via exit 7A of the New Jersey Turnpike to Route 1-195 West; to exit 3b Hamilton Square. Proceed to the third traffic light, turn left onto Route 33 West; Angeloni’s is on the left opposite Staples. From Pennsylvania take 1-95 North to 1-295 South to exit 65A Sloan Ave. East. Proceed to second traffic light and turn right onto Quakerbridge Road. Go about three miles and turn left onto Route 33 East, Angeloni’s is on the right opposite Staples. Park ing is available at the rear of the building. For more information call (609) 371-1902.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers