Music Teacher Wim Gesthuizen, painstakingly hand–copied each lesson for Pieter to practice...
Music booklet
Titles listed and to the right you see the name: Th. van Megen, a skipper on the River Rhine. He smuggled the Soberano accordion into the country for Pieter...
The price for that instrument was six pounds of coffee that Pieter's Mom had stashed away!
Don't forget, this was during WWII there was absolutely no coffee available, it became valuable like gold for Germans.
An den schönen blauen Donau – Johann Strauss
On the beautiful Danube – Johann Strauss
Pieter seen above practicing from this music booklet during WWII on his Hohner, gifted from his Uncle, before he got his new Soberano...
This Hohner that Pieter is holding in his hands, was a diatonic accordion, namely a Viennese model 2–rower with 21 buttons and 8 bass. These models were used from the 1910s to the 1930s.
Later when Pieter joined the military, he also played an Es-trumpet and Trombone with their small military band they marched in front with the International Four Days Marches in Nijmegen.
This is what Pieter knew and studied and also what he played for his serenade: 1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter Playing his Accordion for Brother in Uniform | you can listen to it via link from previous post...
Wonderful that the music booklet has survived all these years! Impressive to see all the music notation painstakingly hand written. Wow!
ReplyDeleteDearest Peter,
DeletePieter has used it through the years for playing his accordion, his 3rd one.
Can you imagine how much time and effort went into that...?
Hugs,
Mariette
What an amazing piece of history. What do kids preserve these days I wonder? It's so enjoyable to have all these analog memories we've collected. You two sure have some amazing mementos. The photopgrah of Pieter is for sure a treasure.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteYes, those mementos do become real treasures for looking back onto when aging.
So happy that I digitalized all I did for sharing it with others, family or friends.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, It says a lot for Pieter, his family, and his teachers that all attached such an importance to music that they were willing to trade their time and precious resources to enable Pieter to get the accordion and the lessons. I'm sure at that time there were accordion music books (although perhaps because of the war not easily obtainable), but many teachers and bandleaders had to write out parts like that--it's part of the by-gone world that people were dedicated enough to perform that extra work. From your previous post, it seems that Pieter's talent and enthusiasm justified all these sacrifices.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have a small Hohner accordion something like the one Pieter is playing, with buttons instead of flat keys. It is used mainly for decoration, but draws a lot of appreciative comments. It does work--my musical grandfather showed me how to play it.
--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteIt indeed tells a lot about all involved around Pieter's accordion lessons and no doubt that he appreciated it as he became quite good at it. At the official opening of the training centre in The Netherlands, he actually played his accordion in the evening during reception time! Loved it very much as he did so with passion – as he's done everything he ever started.
Indeed it seems to be a by-gone world of dedication...
Interesting that you too have a small Hohner with buttons, like Pieter had. The configuration on the button accordion is different from a flat key so you have to re-learn a bit in order to play it. His new one (2012) has flat keys.
Great that you keep your grandfather's musical genes alive.
Hugs,
Mariette
That is a valuable treasure, indeed, Mariette!
ReplyDeleteDearest Martha Jane,
DeleteIt is and a very often used one as well!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dag Mariette,
ReplyDeleteMooi dat dit boekje bewaard is gebleven. Leuk om te zien. Fijne dag en lieve groet!
Beste Willy,
DeleteNiet alleen bewaard maar telkens ook nog gebruikt!
Liefs,
Mariette
A wonderful memory. Is he still playing the accordion?
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, he sure does and using his music booklet with it.
Hugs,
Mariette
Wait, That Is Pieter - What A Photo - I Always Enjoy Myself When Visiting Here - You Two Kids Amaze Me With Every Post - Enjoy Your Weekend And Thanx For Sharing Such Insightful Information - Well Done
ReplyDeleteCheers
Dearest Travis,
DeleteYep, that's him and he still uses this music and still plays his accordion + organ.
It sure is mutual, the feeling of enjoying when visiting your blog...
Hugs,
Mariette
Mi abuelo, al que no llegué a conocer , tocaba 5 instrumentos y mi padre 1. Aunque siempre he sentido inclinación por la música, nunca me he iniciado en tocar ningún instumento.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteQué triste que nunca conociste a tu abuelo. Era un músico muy talentoso con cinco instrumentos. Mi Pieter sabía jugar varios, pero sólo tiene los dos restantes y como tú, nunca he jugado nada...
Abrazos,
Mariette
How clever to be able to play music. I tried but was never successful. And how dedicated for the teacher to write the notes by hand.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you always.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, it certainly is a gift and also proves his dedication and perseverance.
That teacher was indeed, very dedicated and appreciated no doubt having a student that was eager to learn.
Hugs,
Mariette
Very interesting...
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteAn interesting insight into WWII era with its limitations.
Hugs,
Mariette