It was quite something for hearing this SURPRISE coming off one of the WAV files that got extracted from the Gevaphone records we donated to the Dutch Institute for Military History.
Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie
Ministerie van Defensie
1948 March GEVAPHONE recording Pieter playing 'On the Beautiful Danube' with his Soberano Accordion (not on the Hohner shown in this picture from WWII era photo...)
To the left in back row: Marine brother Toon, Pieter center and Thé in uniform for which Pieter played on his accordion.
Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie
Ministerie van Defensie
1948 March GEVAPHONE recording Pieter playing 'On the Beautiful Danube' with his Soberano Accordion (not on the Hohner shown in this picture from WWII era photo...)
Grateful to NIMH The Netherlands for extracting its contents! See for more info link below from previous post where I explain about donating these records to the Dutch Institute for Military History
To the left in back row: Marine brother Toon, Pieter center and Thé in uniform for which Pieter played on his accordion.
Pieter's Mom and Dad in the front.
1948 March GEVAPHONE recording Pieter playing 'On the Beautiful Danube' with his Soberano Accordion (not the one in this earlier photo!)
While his brothers were serving in Indonesia, Pieter was quite musically involved.
While his brothers were serving in Indonesia, Pieter was quite musically involved.
Accordion lessons and he already sang in the big choir during the summer of 1946 in the Rhineland Operette 'Cauber Elsje', where he also danced with partner Willemien Janssen.
Pieter also was requested to play his accordion at a wedding of Tilly Stokman's neighbors, she was an acquaintance of Pieter.
While doing so, someone turned violent and wanted to grab Pieter's accordion and throw it into the water well... Tilly managed to guide him out through a backdoor into the grain field... WOW!
As soon as he got home, after the Marine brother, husband Pieter was wearing his uniform!
No 3 brothers at once could serve...
Pieter's Mom & Dad in 1950, with standing behind them from left: Pieter, Thé and Toon.
Next post is a spoken letter to his Marine Brother...
Related links:
72 Years Later... Gevaphone Spoken Letters to Military Brother Employed Overseas | previous post
{Unique Accordion LOVE Story} | previous post by me about Pieter's 3rd accordion...
Pieter's Music Booklet from WWII Era | how Pieter learned to play his first accordion
Very talented young man...still is amazing! 👍👏💪
ReplyDeleteDearest D,
DeleteYes, he sure is still amazing but this is such a treasure to have!
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletevielen Dank für deinen interessanten Post.
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteDanke sehr und hoffentlich hast du es auch gehört.
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
What a treasure to be able to listen to him playing after all of these years. His parents must have been very proud of all three of their handsome sons.
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteA treasure for sure and we're so proud that at least Pieter lives to hear it!
For the parents of course a lot of pride but even more worry of course. So many did not return from that war...
Hugs,
Mariette
Very talented and very handsome in that last photo!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have the family history, to have those photos. I think my dad has old photos and Mom does too, but I don't know the history of either side of the family beyond the basics, and no one was particularly talented, that I'm aware of!
Dearest Kim,
DeleteBeing talented or not, showing an interest in your Parents' family is a sign of loving your own lineage.
They will tell stories and it should be written on the back of photos, or if digitalized, with a date and info.
There comes a day that no more questions can be asked and it becomes just a pile of paper with printed images on... Sad ending of someone's life. To me, that is far more important than Instagram or whatever as it is all so self-centered.
We are not individuals but threads from a family with quite some heritage... The story needs to be continued.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Agnes,
ReplyDeleteThis is a true treasure!
Hugs,
Mariette
Lovely memories!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, these, especially hearing those memories, are priceless!
Hugs,
Mariette
Love these photos of your husband Pieter with accordion, with family, and in uniform. He is very handsome and has great musical talent! The story at the wedding, though...WOW indeed. I hope nobody was hurt...!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful new week, Mariette!
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteIt is a true treasure to have and to hear! Yes, he was very handsome and an excellent musician.
Nobody got hurt, they called the police to restrain the person and luckily, Pieter saved his beloved Soberano Accordion!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Tilly's friend was obviously not a lover of music. I am glad that they were not my neighbors in Ohio--my whole collection of instruments would have ended up in that well, probably starting with the alto horn! Seriously, I love finding out more about you and Pieter, your hidden talents and old photographs.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteDon't think the person trying to take the accordion was a friend of Tilly... he happened to be just at her neighbor's wedding. Sad that some people react aggressive, under the influence of alcohol. But the fact that they invited Pieter to perform shows that all agreed with his music.
Haha, some surprises surfaced here I guess, and we both are so proud for having them saved for making it into a story of history...
Hugs,
Mariette
Wat een mooi logje Mariëtte. En ontzettend leuk dat geluidsfragment. Fijne dag en lieve groet.
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteDank je en ja, het is een bezit na al die jaren! Jammer dat Pieter's broers het nooit meer hebben kunnen horen... voor wie het bestemd was. Ze hoorden het toen natuurlijk maar daarna nooit meer.
Liefs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - What a wonderful treasure to have discovered, and such a joy for both you and Pieter to be able to enjoy it together.
ReplyDeleteDearest Rosemary,
DeleteYes, this certainly was one of those JIT moments, Just In Time for Pieter to hear it.
One wonders how long such projects can take at times... Not knowing where to go for extracting them.
It had to be this way, through the interaction with the Dutch writer who's done Military History before his retirement.
We enjoy this indeed!
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletees ist immer wieder schön, Erinnerungen aufleben zu lassen.
Liebe Grüße
Irmi
Liebe Irmi,
DeleteWir sind so froh diese Erinnerungen hören zu können nach soviel Jahren!
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
Buon mercoledi.
ReplyDeleteCaro Giancarlo,
DeleteGrazie e lo stesso per voi!
Un abbraccio,
Mariette
wow, das sind schöne Erinnerungen, liebe Mariette und ich habe Pieter spielen gehört, sehr talentiert und er spielt mit viel Liebe. Spielt er heute noch auf dem Akkordeon?
ReplyDeleteViele liebe Grüße zu Euch
von Traudi.♥
Liebe Traudi,
DeleteJa, wunderschöne Erinnerungen und ja Pieter spielt heute noch. Ganz unten am Post gibt es den Link dazu.
Auch spielt mein Pieter Orgel, also seine Finger bewegen noch aber nicht mehr so rasch wie damals!
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
Deletedas finde ich toll!!
Was ich noch zur blauen Donau schreiben wollte... ich bin ein Fan von Andre Rieu, der es so wundervoll mit seinem Strauß-Orchester spielt 🥰🥰
Liebe Grüße von Traudi.
Liebe Traudi,
DeleteDanke, ja André Rieu mit seinem Strauß-Orchester ist super und ich bin immer noch stolz darauf das er aus meiner Provinz stammt!
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette