Paula Sargent, who has deep Cornwall roots, told me about the First Congregational Church and its newly rebuilt 1942 Steinway A, which had yet to be played in a public concert. Paula put me in touch with Donna Brewer, who arranged the concert together with church organist Charles Callahan, a distinguished performer, teacher, organ scholar, and composer, whose many commissions include music for US Papal visits.

The concert was on the 1-year anniversary of the project launch and on Vermont’s 54th annual Green Up Day, a wonderful tradition where virtually every mile of Vermont roadside is cleared of litter by volunteer labor in the only state without an adopt-a-highway program.

click any image to enlarge

Charlie introduced me for this inaugural concert on the rebuilt piano, which he was instrumental in selecting and obtaining for the church. Charlie passed away only a few months later, on Christmas Day.

Cornwall violinist Emily Sunderman joined for the famous Sicilienne attributed to the blind pianist and composer Maria Theresia von Paradis, a close friend of Mozart, but actually written by the American violinist Samuel Dushkin who “discovered” it in the 1920s.

This was our second 2-dog concert. Most Play Every Town concerts are in churches (to paraphrase Willie Sutton: that’s where the pianos are) and almost every church we have asked has welcomed our dogs, which strikes me as very Vermont.

...about the piano

The 1942 Steinway A3, serial no. 311966, was thoroughly rebuilt by Justin & Emily Rose of The Piano Gallery in Ferrisburgh. The Roses write:

Comprehensive rebuilding of this incredible 6'4" grand piano includes: Restringing with new pin-block / Cast-iron plate reguilded with new agraffes and replated duplex bars / Original soundboard and bridges refinished / New damper system / Refinished trap-work and pedal box / Completely rebuilt action with Renner parts featuring Weickert felt hammers / Reconditioned key-sticks with premium tops, leather and felt / Complete action regulation and voicing

It was selected and purchased largely through the efforts of Charlie Callahan, who introduced this concert (see above). As Charlie was quoted in a preview in the Addison County Independent, “the structure of the church is very conducive to the tone of the piano. The tone is even, with no bass bumps or treble bumps. We’re blessed to have a church with great acoustics.”

This was the first concert on the reconditioned instrument. It is interesting how frequently Play Every Town concerts have been the first public or first music event in newly established or refurbished public spaces or on newly acquired or rebuilt instruments. This feels like a great privilege, and allows me to think that this project not only celebrates the efforts being made in town after town to sustain local community activity, but contributes in a modest but meaningful way to that endeavor.

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