Returning from another marvelous and intense three days on almost non-stop ragtime music. The above song, previously unfamiliar to me, was the shirt decor this year to celebrate our 250 years of being the United States. I came home, played the song and honored Joplin's patriotism.
Always exhausted, always ready to say, "Maybe we should skip a year," yet the music is so inspiring Once again I am motivated to play piano daily.
I lost all music in the flood....every last piece....not one sheet was retrievable.
I have replaced a few favorite ragtime books and bought a Trebor Tichenor slim book on this trip for $20.
I also replaced my CD box of Joplin songs by Richard Dowling.
Again, I drove us straight through which was approximately seventeen hours from Sedalia, MO to Hunt, TX.
Again I said, "We shouldn't do that."
However, I have recovered and look forward to our next road trip which is to North Carolina later this June month.
We attended a paid concert every day, supporting the festival. My favorite concert was the Joplin Back-to-Back. One performer played a selection as written and then another performer followed with the same selection improvised. No clapping between the two performances was finally heeded after the first few presentations. It's hard not to cheer and clap following any ragtime soloist!
We also spent time under the big tent and at the railroad station listening to one performer after another which is all free.
The fairground campground was familiar and we stay in the same area year after year. It is a huge rv campground where large rallies are held, like the Airstream rally. I can't imagine an rv in every spot at the fairgrounds. "Give me land lots of land...." between trailers!
SOLACE is my favorite Joplin tune and yes, it was played on the Back-to-Back concert in a splendid manner. My piano teacher of many years, Carl Gibbs, selected this piece for me to study when I requested a rag tune. It is stunningly beautiful.
See you next year, Sedalia, MO. in 2027, I hope!
