Show s w By IRIS YH Recently my tny husband and I attended a music festival where our son along a large number of oC other students took look part in a program These children members mem mem- hers bers of an ambitious hand band reminded me ore but only faintly of oC mj Illy m own high school music tousle dep department WE DIDN'T have a band banI there weren't any instruments il hat we e did have were a a few violins an old olet upright piano a battered saxophone and ami one ore trumpet a souvenir souvenir judging judging by li h Its from appearance from the charge up San Juan lull hill So we had hadan hadan hadan an orchestra There was n a banjo a saxophone a et a set ol of drums and me thumping thump ing away awa on the piano I had halt one distinction distinction tion I l was teh only member er of oC the orchestra orchestra orchestra orches orches- tra who ill hid ever been given a lesson on in m my Instrument The rest of the girls toot- toot led letl strummed or sawed as the spirit moved them One or two t of or them could read music The rest followed along as best the they could with the drummer more mure often than not bringing l up the rear OUR LEADER SENT away to the big bigell ell cit cit for Cor music tousle and anti by the middle of or the year tear we were playing for Cor dances We weren't the best orchestra in town rte We e ejust just happened to be the one We I alwa always s started start the evening with a arousing arousing arousing rousing rendition of Tiger Rag Or a reasonable facsimile Our drummer really cut loose on that one one Instead of being last las she usually managed to finish first which gave here a fine Cine glow of oC accomplish lish ment Next Nert we played Anniversary Waltz Walt for Cor the theold theold old folks After the they retired to the sidelines side lines all looped out from walt waltzing to a number that still stilt tad had shreds of oC Tiger Rag hanging from Crom it we played Springtime in the Ruckles Our violinist always got gOI hopelessly muddled led halfway through h the number No o matter how many lUany times we pla played ed it II she lost her way in these Rock Rock- ies It didn't bother bolher her She sawed on until she found where the rest of us were when she joined us us i don dont don't I think the dancers dancers dan dan- cers noticed Lo Lost 1 or located her plas- plas pla ing sounded pretty much the same sallie During the tie summer we branched out Besides playing for Cor the dances at al home we went out east easl of uC town where rte lIe e were vere not only fifty miles away awa in distance but hut fifty years ears hack back in time We played in incite one cite room mom schools Illuminated b II by kerosene lanterns in private homes where the dance Ilance floor was wilS packed dirt and in small smaIl churches where potbellied stoves were ere a hazard to whirling couples Everyone Everone from miles around came to the dances from rim babes in arms to 10 lettering grandpas The men tired farmers dry mostly were enthusiastic about the chance to lu relax A d good goal man many of oC them became more enthusiastic as the evening wore on helped by a re few good jolts of oC Valle Tan or maybe mabe Old Rotgut These gay men objected loudly to our waltz wall numbers The They preferred to go gu larn around to the Ille Tiger Rag Being of tender tender years ears the All Girl orchestra or or- chestra was supposed to depart at mid told nl night ht We seldom made it Once when our leader insisted he had to 10 get his charges home to their mothers a couple of co types shot out the kerosene lanterns That really broke up the evening We made rather rattier a lot Jot of mone money Or so our cur young oung leader in charge of oC the funds kept telling us We Ve never found out how much it was wa's for tor sure When he left leCt town our none Ilone left with him him |