Instruments of note

This column is primarily about two grand old instruments and the two "grand ladies" associated with them. One lady most readers have heard of, and one most probably have not. Both are related to a unique "instrument of note."

The lady with whom most readers are familiar is Ida Cason Callaway for whom the Chapel at Callaway Gardens is named. Being in this building in which an organ concert is played most days from 3-5 p.m. Eastern, is like being inside a stereo speaker cabinet, the purest sound you'll ever hear. In these days of synthesizers, headphones, great car radios, and spectacular concerts, it is still exhilarating to hear the crescendo of a real pipe organ, tuned so well with its environment and the natural beauty of the area. While not in Alabama, Callaway Gardens is certainly another asset of the East Alabama area since it is within a 45 minute drive. Annual passes to the Gardens at reasonable prices make repeated trips there a real bargain these days.

Another "instrument of note" left Lee County recently. It is a 1931 Baby Grand Steinway, reworked internally by Albert Thomas of the AU Music Department. My daughter inherited it some years ago, but never had a permanent place for it until recently. As she performed Franz Liszt's Etude de Concert at the end of her piano pupils' recital a few weekends ago in north Alabama, it invoked memories of similar talent displayed by her grandmother, her great grandmother & her uncle, all now deceased and all of whom were accomplished pianists. (Somehow, having a daughter with such talent makes it less important that Dad got skipped when music genes were distributed. As a young boy, my piano teacher agreed to let me play first on the program in order to leave early and go play second base on the American Legion baseball team at the diamond next door.)

In any event that 1931 Steinway is still, indeed, an "instrument of note." Albert who performed a light hammer tone regulator procedure on it, says, "They don't make them like that anymore." Like most old instruments, there's a story behind it. Some years after the great grandmother mentioned above was married, she lost her sapphire/diamond engagement ring and her husband asked if she wanted another ring, or a Baby Grand piano. (I suspect he thought the latter would be harder to lose.) Obviously, she opted for the piano. Now, her great, great grandson plays it, and his mother who finished as the first AU Honors Program graduate in Music enjoys it daily and, of course, her students do, also.

The hands which play these organs and pianos are marvelous instruments as well. A Moody Institute of Science videotape (The Wonders of God's Creation - Human Body) includes a fantastic sequence on hands. After describing the fingers which have no muscles but are connected with tendons to 35 separate muscles in the palm and forearm, there starts an almost 4 minute musical performance of a medley from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite during which all 58 distinctive movements the hand can perform are shown in rapid-fire order. John Williams uses a few of the motions as he leads the orchestra in synchronization of the music with the hand movements as diverse as reading Braille, using sign language, tossing Pizza, shooting an arrow, all kinds of sports movements, typing on a computer keyboard, working with tools, tying shoelaces and neckties, sculpting and painting, milking a cow, knitting, sharply directing traffic, performing the deft movements of a surgeon, Karate chops (with clashing cymbals), and clapping.

This musical/hand-movement sequence aptly fits the verbal description, "an ongoing symphony of dexterity and strength." Unfortunately, such marvelous abilities are too often a symphony we take for granted until it becomes discordant due to accident or arthritis or other malady.

The hand is indeed also an "instrument of note." Sir Issac Newton said, "In the absence of any other proof, my thumb alone, would convince me of God's existence."

One of the things I've had to do to continue playing full-court lunch-time basketball is to use athletic tape on several previously injured fingers. While others tease about it, I've noted that more and more of my fellow players ask me for tape for the same reason. And even with taped fingers, an occasional three point shot I try still goes in.

This column by Cutchins (except for some material that was edited out and a few revisions) appeared in the Sunday Opelika-Auburn News on June 18, 1995.