Marcy Prochaska

This weekend — the first of June already! — is the Yellow River Festival, which celebrates the river and the first thirty years of the county.

As far as I know, no one living here in those mid- to late 1800s wrote anything in my repertoire, and yet I’m confident at least some of the tunes I’ll be playing were played around here around that time. Some are older, some perhaps from around that period, and some modern but with much traditional influence.

I recently learned that of those Indiana settlers who immigrated, about 50% were German, 10% Irish, and the rest much smaller percentages from elsewhere. Bach is the only German music I’m aware of knowing; I love playing his tunes. There’ll be a good bit of Irish music, including tunes that have become part of the American tradition as well. I’ll play some originals, too, and — just for fun, and because surely there were some Scandinavians in those smaller percentages — some Swedish and Norwegian tunes.

I’ll be playing for a brown bag lunch at the Marshall County Historical Society at noon on Friday June 4, and again at the festival grounds from 11 to noon on Saturday June 5.

Check out the Festival website for more musical options and other activities, including, new this year, an education stage.

This morning was the first of the third Saturday dulcimer mornings at the Culver Coffee Company, and what a lovely morning it was!

When I arrived, Bob Nowak was starting to hang a new academy faculty art show, including some of his own beautiful frost photographs. A little snow had been falling on my way in, but soon stopped as the day warmed up a bit. By the end of my set, the place was pleasantly full.

We were able to set up a spot for me without having to lose any tables — we just moved two stools and one chair to new locations. It was a good spot visually (anyone in the main room could easily watch if they wanted to, and could see my CDs, business cards, and tip jar) and aurally (one friend said the sound carried around to other rooms, too).

Towards the end I was starting to have trouble thinking of what to play next, and at one point I confused the B part of the tune I was trying to play with the B part of a tune I’d played earlier, but overall it was a refreshing time of music for me. I hope it was refreshing for others, as well; I certainly saw a lot of relaxed and smiley faces.

Thanks to all who stopped in for a listen and some eats or drinks.

See y’all next third Saturday!

Come eat a scone, drink a cup of something sweet, knit, read, or all of the above while I’m playing hammered dulcimer at the Culver Coffee Company this Saturday, February 20, 9:30-11:30.