If you were telling someone about Arkansas City, and you could only tell them one thing, what would it be?
Im thinking of positive things here.
I think i would say "good music"
I dont hear it talked about all that much, but there are a lot of really talented musicians here.
There are quiet a few performances around town, and they are all good.
Im not sure people realize what they have here.
Even a high school production here is pretty good.
I have lived in other small towns, and I feel that on a per-capita basis, there are more quality musicians here than there are in other places.
It all goes back to buckskin joe, one of the settlers who founded arkansas city. he was a "professor" of music. played 16 instruments, all self taught, and taught music.
How many fledglng tow ns in the 1870's had a music professor do you think?
In those days the term "professor" was one you could adopt for yourself and no one questioned it. But being able to play 16 instruments is quiet a feat.
Im not sure if he read music or not.
But that may be the reason we have so many good musicians here.
You had people taking music lessons from him from about 1880 to 1900.
The city band, which is also pretty good, is one of the oldest continually running bands in the state and in the nation.
We do have a great tradition of music here. Why isn't that celebrated more?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
5 comments:
I am a great fan of music. The weekly concerts at Wilson Park and I loved the concert by the river. I would like to see vocal artists performing weekly at Wilson Park this summer. This could be bands or solo acts.
That would be great.
I think it could be done without too much trouble.
All we need is a sound system.
Wilson Park rotunda is free to use. I think you have to pay for the electricity but its a minimal charge.
Anyone want to help make that happen?
Would need to do something about the restrooms. However, I do not know why we do not use this wonderful park more!
Outdoor concerts would be great. I'd like to hear that girl singing with Tim @ Brown's perform again. She was GREAT!!! I'd pay to get into that one. They were a wonderful duet.
What would it really take to organize? We just need to round up some musicians, put up a billboard in the park with concert info (perhaps banner, too?), advertise in the paper and local websites, advertise on radio, schedule some dates, hook up sound system and lights and WALLA! No need to set up chairs, as everyone could bring their own. Might want to move the tables in case if someone broke out into dance, though.
Wonder if Sparks would donate or sell the city some cheap sound equipment.
What would it really take to organize? We just need to round up some musicians, put up a billboard in the park with concert info (perhaps banner, too?), advertise in the paper and local websites, advertise on radio, schedule some dates, hook up sound system and lights and WALLA! No need to set up chairs, as everyone could bring their own. Might want to move the tables in case if someone broke out into dance, though.
>
Lights are already there,
all you need is sound, put up a billboard, move the tables and there you go.
i know somebody at the paper who might get it in there for us some too :)
that would be about it, then word of mouth and line up some musicians.
Post a Comment