I am still getting my bearings after a recent trip to New York City. I loved all the walking, all the sightseeing, and all the delicious food! And, this may surprise those of you familiar with my vacations: I left my cardboard G. Oliver Riggs at home. That’s because – as far as I can tell – my well-traveled great-grandfather never visited New York.

No G. in NYC? Why not, I wonder?

G. Oliver Riggs, on the cover of the New York-based American Musician and Art Journal
The only New York connection I’ve found is a feature article about G. Oliver that ran in the New York-based American Musician and Art Journal magazine on Dec. 13, 1913. The writer of the article conducted the interview not in New York, but in Chicago, at the studio of one of G. Oliver’s mentors, the famous bandmaster and brass instrument teacher A.F. Weldon. At the time of the interview, G. Oliver had a job directing a band in Havre, Montana.

(I tracked down the article a few years ago when my dad and I were at the Library of Congress; I’d deduced that such an article existed after finding the top half of the magazine cover, pictured above, in the family files, and a mention of the article in a newspaper clipping).

Chicago was G. Oliver’s city, the big city that was so important for him musically. It’s where he studied violin in the mid-1890s under Luigi von Kunitz (Kunitz later conducted the Toronto Symphony). It’s where G. Oliver’s wife, Islea, studied piano with Emil Liebling before G. Oliver and Islea married. And it’s where G. Oliver returned occasionally to study the cornet and band directing under Weldon during the Golden Age of Bands.

I can understand G. Oliver’s connection to Chicago, but I am surprised that he didn’t find a reason to go to New York, especially during the earlier part of his career. The city’s history of impressive wind bands dates back to the 1830s, when the Dodworth Band formed and began to dominate the music scene (Fun fact: the Dodworth Saxhorn Band, a Michigan-based recreation of the original Dodworth Band, plans to return to Northfield in August for the 2013 Vintage Band Festival).

New York continued to support well-regarded bands during and long after the Civil War – like the one directed by Patrick Gilmore.

It would have taken some time for G. Oliver to travel from the Midwest to Manhattan, but he did live during a time when Americans traveled easily and frequently by train. Distance didn’t stop him from traveling as far east as Oberlin, Ohio, to attend college in the late 1880s/early 1890s; from traveling to the South in 1906 with an Iowa regimental band; or from traveling as far west as Tacoma, Wash., in 1910 to form a professional band.

So if he never made it to New York, it could have been due to a lack of desire. Or it might be that the right opportunity never presented itself. I can understand how that could happen. Even though I’ve traveled to most of the 50 states, I’d never visited New York City until a couple of years ago, when Steve and I took the kids there on a family vacation. This time, the trip was work-related (for Steve, anyway).


Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
If I’m wrong, and G. Oliver did travel to New York a century ago, he might have detrained at Grand Central Station (officially known as the Grand Central Terminal). And, while there, he might have spent several minutes soaking up the atmosphere of the cavernous place, wondering about all the other people rushing by, their lives and dreams intersecting for a moment amid the grandeur of marble and the utility of train tracks.

Or maybe that was just me. Me in New York, minus the G.

0

Add a comment

November 26, 2020, will be long remembered as the year of the pandemic Thanksgiving. The date coincided with another momentous occasion, but because of COVID-19, I wasn't able to celebrate it as I would have liked: it was the 150th birthday of my paternal great-grandfather, G. Oliver Riggs.

What are you doing Oct. 3-4? I'm guessing you're not straying too far from home, in these COVID times, so why not join me at an online book festival? The Deep Valley Book Festival is going virtual this year, and it will offer a variety of panels and events over two days.

One year ago today, I hosted a launch party for my book and was blown away by the response. I'm feeling especially grateful tonight for all the people who packed the Grand Event Center in Northfield that evening to show their interest and support.

Happy almost book birthday!

My nonfiction book, Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters: The Story of a Minnesota Music Man, officially entered the world of published books on July 1, 2019, which means it's almost 1 year old!

Time sure flies when COVID-19 prevents you from continuing your book tou

COVID-19 shut down many of my plans for book events this spring and summer. Fortunately, the Northfield Public Library has come to the rescue by offering me the chance to do my planned book reading in a virtual format next week.

Today at 3 p.m., my dad and my middle child both played Taps, 175 miles apart.

My great-grandfather would have loved knowing that he was the subject of Curt Brown's Minnesota History column in last Sunday's (April 12) Star Tribune, Riggs struck up band like few others. It was a boost to me, as well, to see G.

4

I spent a few hours this afternoon cleaning out the bedroom that has served as my office since September, so Sebastian can reclaim it for the rest of the school year. I got sidetracked (no surprise) when I came across a fragile, musty photo album that a second cousin sent me many months ago.

Three weeks ago — which seems like three years ago now — I was the featured guest at the monthly meeting of the Stillwater Woman's Reading Club. The group formed in 1886 and is the longest-operating woman-founded club in Minnesota.

In my previous blog post, I mentioned that I wrote two different epilogues for my book, Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters: The Story of a Minnesota Music Man. I ultimately decided against including either one in the final manuscript.

If you've read my book, Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters: The Story of a Minnesota Man, you may have noticed that it doesn't have a prologue or an epilogue. Originally, it had both.

An earlier draft of the book contained a prologue called Prelude: Des Moines 1931.

4

When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to become a librarian when I grew up. I devised my own Dewey Decimal system for my collection of books at home, and my little book-loving heart filled with ...

People who attended my reading at Little Joy Coffee last night got a bonus slice of entertainment, although some may not have noticed; it was subtle.

The sign outside his door must have listed his office hours, but I don’t remember paying much attention to it.

1

When my daughter, Louisa, asked a few weeks ago what I wanted for my birthday, I had a quick response: "Take me to see the movie Little Women while you're home for Christmas."

I received my gift Monday evening, the night before she returned to California.

My calendar tells me a month has passed since my book launch, so it must be true. But it's been such a whirlwind, it's difficult for me to believe we've reached mid-August.

When I chose the date for my book launch party—July 16, 2019—I hadn't considered its historic significance: it marked the 50th anniversary of the launching of Apollo 11, the spacecraft that first landed humans on the moon.

Now that my nonfiction book Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters: The Story of a Minnesota Music Man (Nodin Press) is published and out in the world, I've been working diligently to line up events where people can learn more about the book and buy signed copies.

It's now official, so please consider yourself invited and get the date on your calendar — I'm having a launch party two months from today for my forthcoming book, Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters: The Story of a Minnesota Music Man (Nodin Press).

The party will be from 7-9 p.m.

The 2019 Vintage Band Festival is only 11 weeks away, so mark it on your calendar now —you don't want to miss it! It runs Aug. 1-4 in historic downtown Northfield, Minnesota.

We used to joke that Louisa's middle name was "Persistence." It was a nicer way of saying stubborn, on those occasions when she dug in and refused to back down from a goal —like when she lobbied for a pet rat (we ended up with two).

2

Steve, Sebastian, Elias, and I flew out to Los Angeles at the end of January to visit Louisa for several days — fortuitously, our timing meant we missed most of the polar vortex — and on our second night in the "Entertainment Capital of the World," we had not one but TWO celebrity sightings.

Happy New Year! I have a feeling 2019 is going to be a productive and rewarding year. Here's to music, family, friendship, and all the pleasures that make life worth living.

Two weeks ago, we took my paternal great-grandfather along on a college visit. It’s not the first time we’ve traveled with him.

My favorite time of the summer is almost here. The 2018 One Day Vintage Band Festival will take place this Saturday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in charming, historic downtown Northfield.

Two weeks ago, my parents rode through my hometown in a red convertible, waving to throngs of parade spectators.

2

Several months ago, Elias asked Steve and me if we could take him to the Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan. If you're like me, you may be thinking, "There's a big piano festival in Kalamazoo?" Turns out, there is, every other year, and it's a big deal.

A friend posted a link on Facebook recently that immediately sucked me in. It showed footage taken by a Swedish film production company of various locations in New York City in 1911. A man edited it down to an 8-minute YouTube film and added ambient sounds.

Because the outdoor temperature today mostly stayed in the single digits (it may have reached 10 degrees Fahrenheit when I wasn't paying attention), I have spent most of the day inside, looking through old photos and making a weak attempt at organizing some research files.

I normally watch the Super Bowl for the ads, and the pop culture aspect of it. Oh, and the snacks. But last night's game held two surprises for me; the first was how much I enjoyed watching the actual game.

2

Today marked the first snow day of the 2017–18 school year. Elias was happy to sleep in a little later this morning, and I was happy I had no afternoon appointments, especially when the winter storm warning for our county was upgraded to a blizzard warning.

The most exciting musical development at our house over the past several months has been Elias' renewed interest in playing the piano. We have La La Land to thank for it.

I gave Louisa and her friend Grace a ride to St. Paul yesterday, and before returning to Northfield, Sebastian and I visited the Minnesota State Capitol, a gorgeous building designed by St. Paul architect Cass Gilbert.

I'm so glad Sebastian suggested the spontaneous field trip.

It's easy to keep track of my book project's birthday because it all started in October of 2006, when Elias turned 6. Now he's 17, and I am so close to being done, I would love to whip up a cake and celebrate.

2

The fun starts tomorrow (Saturday, July 29) at 10 a.m. in beautiful, historic downtown Northfield. Below is a list of the bands set to perform in Bridge Square. Glossy, free programs will be available (thank you, advertisers and By All Means Graphics).

Popular Posts
Popular Posts
About Me
About Me
Blog Archive
Labels
Labels
Loading
Dynamic Views theme. Powered by Blogger. Report Abuse.