If you weren’t in Dunvegan last Thursday for the ‘Classical Music Under the Stars’ recital at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum, you missed a truly special evening. In a concert dedicated to his first child (born just three days before the event), piano soloist Nicholas Deek gave a magical performance under an impressive cloudscape, richly tinted by the setting sun.
The first half of the evening’s performance featured works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart and Brahms. Then, as Deek played the very last notes before the intermission, raindrops began to fall. Luckily, the shower began slowly enough for Nicholas and the audience to escape to the shelter of the Williams Pavilion, dry off the equipment and set up a temporary stage. The keyboard was sheltered from the wind by a hastily hung vinyl panel, part of the curtain system donated by Karen Davison and Don Woods that will soon be installed for use in exactly these kind of situations.
The rain during intermission also impacted a newcomer to the event: Stonehouse Vineyard from Lochiel. To complement the cultural occasion, the winery was on hand to showcase itslocally produced fine wines. The hope was that, at the halftime break, the audience would be able to mingle, enjoy additional tastings and perhaps purchase a bottle or two. Hopefully,next year will see a larger audience and clearer skies.
While unfortunate, the rainfall proved short-lived and the concert resumed. In the second half of the evening’s program, the audience was treated to works by Schubert, Schumann and Chopin. And I’m pleased to report that the acoustics in the barn-like structure were surprisingly good. The crowd of over seventy classical music enthusiasts seemed to agree. Their standing ovation at the recital’s conclusion elicited two encores.
There were many new faces amongst this year’s audience, including Val Hafke, a friend of former Dunveganite Lisa Chapman. In a Facebook post the morning after the concert, Val enthused, “It was my first time attending this event, but it won’t be my last. Thanks Lisa for dragging me out!”
When we were planning this year’s recital, Nicholas mentioned how nice it would be to rent areal piano for the starlit performance. However, as he and I gingerly carried his keyboard out of the rain, I was forever grateful it wasn’t a grand, or even a baby grand.
Horse parade is back
Clay MacWhirter, chair of the museum’s 2022 Harvest Fall Festival in Dunvegan, passed along some great news this past week: the extremely popular horse parade will once again wind its way down the hill from Kim and Don Raymond’s farm and up and down the streets of the hamlet. Thanks to the efforts of committee member Norm MacCrimmon, owners of teams of horses and associated rolling stock — buggies, wagons, carts and the like — have started pledging to breath new life into this much beloved feature of our harvest celebration. Hopefully, the Quigley Highlanders Pipes and Drums will claim their rightful place at the head of the line. If you’d like to take part in the parade (or be volunteer at the marshalling field or with crowd and traffic control), contact Norm at 613-525-1186.
The Glengarry Pioneer Museum’s fall festival is also looking for more agricultural producers,artisans and crafts people with goods and services that fit well with the festival’s old-time theme. As well, if you’re interested in displaying your collection of antique artifacts or tools, demonstrating a heritage trade or exhibiting a vintage farm machine, please contact Clay MacWhirter at clay.macw@gmail.com or call 613-306-2578.
Last, but not least, don’t forget that the Harvest Sale fundraising tent still needs your donations of home grown, home baked and home cooked items: from pies, squares and breads to garden fresh produce, preserves and plants. Your contributions can be dropped off at the museum (call ahead to 613-527-5230 to make sure someone’s there). Or to arrange for a pickup, call Barb Newman at 613-361-2703.
Memorial lunch returns
Rev. Jim emailed to say that he’s back in the saddle, so to speak. He reports that he and his wife had a grand vacation “hop-scotching from one place to another.” He also wanted me to remind members of Kenyon Presbyterian Church that this coming Sunday is the last time for a while that services will be held at 9:30 am. For the months of September through to the end of December, worship at Kenyon Church will begin at 11 am. This includes Dunvegan’s annual Memorial Sunday on September 4th. The first Sunday in September is when Dunvegan families and friends have traditionally gathered to commemorate loved ones laid to rest in the kirkyard. Thankfully, for the first time in a few years, there will be a luncheonfollowing the service and everyone is invited to attend, including members of Dunvegan’s sister church, St. Columba, in Kirk Hill
-30-