Sounds of Music: Vintage to Whimsical

Music is the universal language of mankind....... Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Music is more than reading the notes and hitting the correct keys in the correct sequence and time.
"Playing" the piano or any other musical instrument is a misnomer.  It makes it sound like a game; like playing hop-scotch, or playing ball etc.  Speaking as struggling fledgling, I can tell you it is more WORK than PLAY.  I am grateful to my sister who not only encourages my attempts at playing the piano, but who also applauds my successes.


Few truly possess the God-given talent and passion for music and the ability to use the instruments to speak the language of music. My sister is one of those talented accomplished pianists, and has graciously allowed me to invade her home with my camera so that I may share some of her usual and UNusual musical memorabilia.

The vintage collection begins with this World War I Field Pump Organ - circa 1896. It was manufactured in Washington, New Jersey by Johnston Cornish who also manufactured pianos.  Mr. Cornish also served as a member  of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 4th district from March 4, 1889 - March, 1893. 

A view of the full key board, and a close up of the manufacturer's logo.

 Three of the twelve 'stops'

The foot pedals that 'pumped' the air into the bellows which then produced the sounds..  The carving above the pedals is quite intricate.

   

 The full size Harpischord has black and BROWN keys.

And closely resembles a Baby Grand Piano

 This instrument is tuned much like a guitar.  The tool pictured here tightens the frets to achieve the correct sound/tone for each of the black and brown keys.

 The 'frets' and strings.

 The contemporary continues with an accordion that dates back to the 1950's.  Here it is in its ORIGINAL RED VELVET case. It is a very cumbersome, heavy instrument, and was actually transported back and forth to the DelNunzio School of Music in an old baby stroller.

 There are 120 'base' buttons, and the silver bar is used to change raise or lower the octave.  The large black buttons on the key board changed the sound from treble to bass enabling the accordion to have a full range of octaves. 

                      The original carry case.

This magnificent instrument speaks for itself.

It is a Steinway Concert Grand Piano.

 The various patents range in date from the 1870 to 1876

 It is indeed a GRAND instrument.

We come to the 'stringed' instruments. The MANDOLIN in its original case complete with a package of replacement strings. 

 

 Additional 'stringed' instruments.  The Zither (also known as the Auto Harp) guitar and violin.

The Violin, Guitar and '8', '16', and '36' hole harmonicas belong to my nephews.  I received these pictures via email, and had  some 'technical difficulties'!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bongos from the Virgin Islands

The more modern electric key board.  By using the keypad on the right side of the controls, this instrument 'mimics' all of the instruments highlighted here, and then some!

 The WHIMSICAL:   The lovely young lady playing the Harp,

                                       the Christmas Angel Bear, playing Christmas Carols on the accordion.  Both of these do actually PLAY music.The accordion moves in and out along with the music;

and the 'foam' floor puzzle meant for little feet to play. 

Remember: 

I hope you enjoyed the visuals of the "Sounds of Music".  Thank you for visiting "This and That"
                                    

please COME "BACH" again!

By the Beautiful Sea....glass

My interest with Sea Glass began after I read the Anita Shreve novel "Sea Glass", and developed into a fascination when my grand daughter presented me with "REAL Sea Glass Grammy!!" that she found beach combing on "LBI" ( Long Beach Island, New Jersey). 

While I see the ethereal, mystical qualities of the origin, age, destinations of the glass, my daughter sees the artistic, value, and creates Sea Glass jewelry.  She began her craft by using glass she found along the New Jersey shoreline and purchasing other Sea and Lake glass from around the world:  Israel, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Canada, and more locally from the Eastern End of Long Island. 

A variety of Sea Glass

The colors are more vivid than you would imagine after spending years being tossed about in the oceans and lakes.

Some glass is opaque, and other glass is translucent

Sea  and Lake POTTERY!

An example of "crackled" glass

This is "bonfire" glass.  It is formed when two pieces of glass are fused by fire.

When held up to the light, this large round glass mimics the surface of the moon.

A MOST unusual piece of glass that resembles Halloween Candy Corn

The craftsman (my daughter) begins her designs by first drilling holes in the delicate glass using various VERY SMALL diamond bits.  This must be done very carefully.  One slip, and the glass will shatter.

Using very fine STERLING SILVER wire

and appropriately sized pliers

and many different 'connectors' and attachments,

and all sorts of clasps:  magnetic, alligator clasps, ring clasps, and a 'ring sizer' show below,

are some of the final products.

An Angel Fish filled with minute pieces of green sea glass,

A combination of Sea Pottery and Sea Glass

A rare dark blue sea glass hung beneath a Swarovski  Crystal and a Silver Starburst

Rings made with both Sterling Silver and Copper bands

Bracelets and anklets using  Sterling Silver and Copper.  The glass used for the larger anklet comes from Spain, the magnetic heart clasp is very user friendly and very secure.  A more delicate-looking anklet is made by separating the 'twisty'  heavier silver with pale green Swarovski  crystals and fastening with an 'alligator clasp'.

The glass that started it all!  The two pieces of "REAL Sea Glass Grammy" made into a pendant separated by a silver 'button', and finished with a clear Swarovski crystal, and darker glass that was found along the New Jersey shoreline.

The items shown here are in my personal collection.  If you'd like to see more one-of-a-kind SeaGlass creations, go to the SeaCharms website:

at:  www.etsy.com/shop/seacharms

Once again, thank you for visiting "This and That" and a "little bit of everything:".

Linda P