Iceland Adventure

March 7, 2023March 8, 20232 Comments

Joe and I recently returned from a quick trip to Iceland, the icy wonderland in the North Atlantic which is home to around 350,000 people. On our first day we explored the capitol city of Reykjavik on foot. On our walk, we watched gorgeous swans, ducks and geese swimming and posing in a large city pond, we ambled down cobbled city streets and marveled at the mix of historic and modern buildings, and we lunched in a fabulous vegan cafe called Mama Reykjavik.

One evening we took a boat ride to view the Northern Lights (great adventure, but alas, no lights.) We soaked in the famous blue lagoon where we rubbed mud all over our faces and let the mineral rich water soak into our skin. On our penultimate day, we took a 7- hour bus tour of the Golden Circle which drove us along miles and miles of highway with spectacular views of the snow covered landscape, Stops along the way included Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Geothermal Area, Þingvellir National Park, and the Kerid Crater (where we hiked around the icy edge).

Rose, our guide on the Golden Circle explained the gastronomical delights of Iceland including fish soup, lamb stew, and on the wilder side, sheep’s head, and fermented shark. As Joe and I stick to a vegan diet, we were happy to find plenty of options in Reykveck.

Thanks to it’s abundant geothermic activity, hot water heats homes throughout the country, as well as provides hot water for hundreds of public pools, and natural soaking spots which Icelanders enjoy throughout the country-in every village and town. Add Along with abundant soaking and swimming pools, Iceland boasts sleek modern buildings, free health care and educational systems, and a nearly crime-free oasis where the policeman don’t even carry guns because it is so safe. Indeed, Iceland is a chilly oasis of civility in the north Atlantic.

To get a sense of the vastness and open space, watch the 2016 movie Rams, available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, about two estranged, sheep-farmer brothers who live next door to each other and haven’t spoken in 40 years who come together for the good of the family sheep stock. Gives a good look at the desolate, icy landscape of rural Iceland.

Víkingur Ólafsson, word-renowned Icelandic pianist, records music as serene, stunning, and clean as the Icelandic landscape. His newest recording, From Afar, features 22 works including Icelandic folk songs, along with romantic and contemporary pieces. Listen to his Ave Maria by Sigvaldi Kaldalóns here.

Kerid Crater — Joe and Laura on the Golden Circle Tour

Burt Bacharach (1928-2023)

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023Leave a comment

“This Guy’s in Love With You” by Burt Bacharach, arranged by Phillip Keveren, played by Laura Dean

Do you remember those huge stereo consoles circa mid 1970 where you had to lift a lid on the top to get to the turntable hiding inside? Listening to music was an intentional experience that took some planning – purchasing a record at at a brick and mortar record store. Not to mention, it also took a combination of strength and dexterity to lift the console lid and to gently place the record onto the turntable before dropping the needle.

My first introduction to Burt Bacharach’s music was “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” sung by BJ Thomas, and played by my Grandma Dean on her gigantic stereo console. I loved the ceremony of watching her load the record, singing along with the song, and sharing the experience together. The song, from the charming bicycle scene in the movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, remains a classic in the Bacharach canon.

In elementary school, in Choteau, Montana, where I grew up, our music classes took place in the cafeteria. Our beloved teacher, Dorothy Allen, would often pass out song sheets for sing alongs. While she accompanied on the spinet piano, we sang our hearts out. One of our favorite songs was the Bacharach hit, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” I think it was the groovy melody more than the words that hooked us, after all, we really weren’t interested in love, but we did recognize a great tune.

The news stories in the wake of Burt Bacharach’s passing last week remind us of his huge body of work and his many contributions to the “Great American Songbook.” His lovely melodies, accompanied by thoughtful lyrics, have left an indelible mark on our hearts. Thanks Burt Bacharach, we will be teaching, playing and listening to your music for decades to come!

CBC Sunday Morning story about Burt Bacharach:

Diana Krall sings “The Look of Love.”

Dionne Warwick sings “I Say a Little Prayer for You.”

The Phillip Keveren Bacharach and David Collection of Piano Solos

Piano students, a wedding, and TÁR!

February 2, 2023Leave a comment

“Prelude in C Major,” J.S. Bach, played by Laura Dean

What do piano lessons, a wedding, and the 2022 movie TÁR have in common? The answer – Bach’s “Prelude in C Major,” the first piece from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier (The Well-Tempered Clavier), a two volume collection of 24 preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys dating back to 1722. The WTC is considered one of the most important works of keyboard literature. Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” is an enduring prelude played by beginning piano students as well as seasoned professionals. I’ve had the pleasure of both performing this piece for special events and teaching the piece to piano students of all ages. The prelude remains familiar, meditative and comforting.

I recently played the piano at the wedding of two dear friends, Mara and Matt, at the Novelty Hill-Januik Winery in Woodinville, Washington. The couple selected Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” as the prelude to the ceremony. The piece was a lovely choice to set the tone for such a beautiful event. Elegant, timeless, and tranquil.

In contrast, the 2022 psychological thriller, TÁR, features the same piece performed by Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett). In a particularly tense scene, Lydia Tár invites a master class participant to sit by her on the piano bench as she demonstrates the prelude. She commands that the student listen to the questions present in Bach’s composition as she intensely plays the piece with a variety of articulations and expressions, all the while making the student feel more and more uncomfortable. The particular scene was featured in this article by the New York Times.

I invite you to listen to a variety of pianists play “Bach’s Prelude in C Major,” each with their own sound, including Glenn Gould (listen carefully and you can hear him vocalizing in the background), Lang Lang, and Angela Hewitt.

Walla Walla and Prosser, Washington

October 4, 2022October 4, 20222 Comments

I’ve recently returned from a mini book tour to south eastern Washington. Along the way I gave two Music in the Westward Expansion presentations and took in some of the rich history and natural beauty of the area. The first program was an after hours program at the Fort Walla Walla Museum, located at the edge of town. The second program took place in Prosser at the Prosser Historical Museum.

Joe, my partner in life and roadie, drove (about 600 miles total) the tour vehicle (his Subaru Forester), and helped me haul my very heavy digital piano, guitar, music stand, Northern Cheyenne courtship flute, and other miscellaneous music paraphernalia in and out of the venues. Joe, who is also a master birder, managed to enjoy two exciting mornings of birding at Fort Walla Walla and at the Whitman Mission. For his eastern WA report, visit Short and Tweet Bird Reports.

Joe- birding in a natural area adjacent to the Fort Walla Walla Museum

In between events we enjoyed the vibrant downtown scene in Walla Walla where we strolled along picturesque sidewalks by welcoming shops and restaurants and ate some delicious meals. The Walla Walla Valley is known for its wine industry and the area around Walla Walla is surrounded by gently rolling hills lush with grape vines, and home to some 120 wineries.

At Fort Walla Walla, my presentation was in the main lobby which houses a historical covered wagon, a beautiful stage coach (pictured below), and display cases full of relics from the mid 1800s which made for a perfect setting for Music in the Westward Expansion. My program was part of a series called “After Hours” where authors and historians present programs on their field of expertise. The presentation was recorded and will eventually be added to the Fort Walla Walla website in the past programs link. Thank you to Ella Meyers and the Fort Walla Walla Museum for hosting this event.

Music in the Westward Expansion program at Fort Walla Walla

The day after the Fort Walla Walla event, we spent anafternoon at the Whitman Mission where missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman established a mission near the Cayuse Nation at Waiilatpo on the Columbia Plateau in 1836. At the mission, we walked the grounds, marveled in the open space, and learned more about the complicated and difficult story of the Whitmans and the Cayuse people which is an important and pivotal story within the story of the American Westward Expansion.

Wagon at Waiilatpu, the Whitman Mission Historical Site, located west of Walla Walla.

In Prosser, the county seat of Benton County, located along the Yakima River, I played on an 1860s Chickering square grand piano. The piano was originally shipped from the East Coast around Cape Horn to Astoria where is was then shipped up the Columbia River and hauled overland to Prosser! Playing the piano in the parlor setting truly felt like stepping back in time. Thank you to Alys Means and the Prosser Historical Museum for hosting this event.

1860s Chickering Square Grand at the Prosser Historical Museum

Honoring Chief Earl Old Person (1929-2021)

November 8, 20213 Comments

“Legend of the Plains” by Charles Wakefield Cadman, an early 20th century composer whose compositions were often inspired by Native American melodies. Played by Laura Dean.

Get up. Jump up. Try hard and don’t give up. – Chief Earl Old Person

Chief Earl Old Person died of cancer at the age of 92 on October 13th. Old Person was a national treasure who served as the chief of the Blackfeet Nation for more than 60 years. He was an expert of Blackfeet language and culture, an advocate for tribal land and water rights, an inspired political leader, and an international ambassador. In his lifetime he met every president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. He also met Queen Elizabeth, the prime minister of Canada-Pierre Trudeau, and the shaw of Iran. In his later years, he created home recordings of traditional stories and songs for the benefit of future generations.

I grew up in Choteau, Montana, on the Eastern Rocky Mountain front, about 70 miles south of Browning, Montana-the headquarters of the Blackfeet Reservation-the last stop before Glacier Park. The Choteau Bulldogs and Browning Indians were in the same athletic conference. Throughout my elementary to high school years, I regularly traveled to Browning for swim meets and to watch basketball and football games.

Earl Old Person rarely missed a high school basketball game-Browning is legendary for champion basketball teams and enduring fans. For his last visit to the Browning high school gymnasium, his casket was placed in the middle of the basketball court where thousands of mourners came to honor his memory and to say their final goodbyes. The mourning period lasted for four days and included processions, dancing, songs, and stories celebrating the life of the beloved chief.

Earl Old Person singing the Badger Two Medicine Song

New York Times: “Earl Old Person, Chief of the Blackfeet Nation, Dies at 92”

For an unforgettable story of high school basketball on Montana’s southeastern reservations, read: Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball and Honor on the Little Big Horn by Larry Colton

Whiskey Before Breakfast

October 3, 2021Leave a comment

“Whiskey Before Breakfast,” arranged for solo piano and performed by Laura Dean.

I’m in the sweet spot on the author’s continuum. The manuscript for my book, Music in the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier, is with my publisher-McFarland. The images have been approved, the permissions have been gathered, the cover has been finalized, and the book is up for presale on various platforms including McFarland and Amazon. While working through the final stages of the editing process with McFarland, I have been learning traditional tunes, songs, and instrumental pieces that are mentioned in the text of my book.

One of the songs mentioned in the book, “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” is a popular Métis fiddle tune that captures the adventurous and optimistic spirit of the Old West. The old time tune may have Irish roots, but it was made famous in the 1950s by Métis fiddler, Andy De Jarlis. The Métis people, of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, are known for a vibrant fiddling culture dating back to the 1800s.

For a fiddle version of “Whiskey Before Breakfast” check out: https://www.vithefiddler.com/whiskey-before-breakfast-fiddle-tune-a-day-day-21/

The inspiration for the solo piano arrangement came from Mickey Abraham who created a flatpicking arrangement of the piece : https://www.flatpick.com/category_s/1996.htm

Please enjoy “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” and stay tuned for more music and stories in the weeks to follow!

Leading up to the release date, I’ll be creating posts featuring narrative and music from the book. Please sign up here for uplifting recordings and musical posts sent directly to your inbox!

Music in the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier

May 26, 20212 Comments

After months (really years) of work on the manuscript, I’m delighted to announce the book cover and title of my forthcoming book to be published by McFarland Publishers later this year. The book is 7 x 10 inches and contains 10 chapters along with 60 images, bibliography, index, and a selection of lead sheets.

As the publisher is hard at work on the editing process, I turn my attention to offering a sneak peek of the book. Over the next several weeks, I’ll post snippets of the narrative along with my own recordings of songs mentioned in the text.

The cover image features the Fort Shaw Mandolin Club circa 1905. The young ladies hold a variety of string instruments including mandolins, violins, and guitars. The image was likely taken at the Fort Shaw Indian School near Great Falls, Montana. (Image courtesy of Montana Historical Society.)

The story………………….

Many people have heard of The Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Oregon Trail, and the Westward Expansion, but few are aware that music played a significant role in the movement. The diverse cultural landscape of the Old West included Northern Cheyenne courtship flute makers, fiddle-playing explorers, dancing fur trappers, hymn-singing missionaries, frontier flutists, girls with guitars, wagon driving balladeers, poetic cowboys, singing farmers, musical miners, and preaching songsters.

During the Westward Expansion, some 400,000 people uprooted their families in pursuit of a better life in the West. Taking only the bare essentials that would fit into simple wagons, the pioneers made room for musical instruments alongside their guns, food, and tools. Music often provided the only spark of light and happiness for these weary travelers during what seemed like an endless dusty journey fraught with hardships. Heart and Place offers a new look at an old story, an opportunity to drill down deeply into the experiences of our forefathers and foremothers, discovering again and again how music sustained them, provided joy, and often eased tensions between disparate groups along the trail.

Heart and Place- The Book!

June 16, 2020June 16, 20204 Comments

A quick post to let you know the news that yesterday I signed a publishing contract with McFarland & Company, Inc. for my book: Heart and Place: Music and the Westward Expansion (this is the working title). The project is near and dear to my heart. I guess you say the book has been 51 years in the making, as both music and living in the West have played such a huge part in my life. There is still a long road ahead, but yesterday marks a big milestone along the way.

The book explores a variety of music traditions of the 19th Century American West including Northern Cheyenne courtship flutes, fiddle playing explorers, women composers, medicine songs, French tunes, dancing fur trappers, hymn-singing missionaries, piano playing nuns, frontier flutists, girls with guitars, wagon driving balladeers, opulent theaters, musical instrument showrooms, Chinese American Suona players, singing farmers, opera enthusiasts, musical miners, and preaching songsters. Stay tuned for updates on the book launch date!

Signing the Contract with McFarland & Company, Inc. 6/15/20

Buffy Sainte-Marie, Love Lift Us Up!

October 5, 2018Leave a comment

Last weekend, Scott Simon of NPR’s Weekend Edition featured an interview with award-winning Canadian singer, songwriter, artist, and social activist, Buffy Sainte-Marie. What a delightful and insightful interview!

This is the first time I’ve heard of Buffy Sainte-Marie. Where have I been? I instantly fell under her spell as she talked about her recently released biography, her life in music, and her personal journey. As the interview rolled on, her radiant spirit, humor, and message of hope came through loud and clear. Thanks, Scott Simon!

She co-wrote the 1982 song, “Up Where We Belong” from the film, An Officer and a Gentlemen. For this song, she received a Golden Globe and an Academy Award, making her the first native person to ever win that award.

Check out Buffy’s interview with Scott Simon:

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/29/652791230/buffy-sainte-maries-authorized-biography-serves-as-a-map-of-hope

Don’t miss this soulful video of Buffy’s You Got to Run ( Spirit Of The Wind )

Up Where We Belong, I recorded this in my studio yesterday, inspired by Buffy’s interview! It’s such a beautiful song, an old favorite.

Who knows what tomorrow brings

In a world few hearts survive
All I know is the way I feel
When it’s real, I keep it alive

The road is long
There are mountains in our way
But we climb a step every day

Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry
On a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world below
Up where the clear winds blow…………………………………..

The original recording by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes:

Indeed,

Love Lift Us Up!

Piano Arts in Netarts

September 28, 2018September 29, 2018Leave a comment

The beautiful Oregon Coast

One of the beautiful pianos – a Yamaha courtesy of Classic Pianos, Portland

The Surf Inn

The fire hall

Flag made of fire hoses

Fishing Buoys

I recently returned from Netarts on the Oregon Coast for Piano Arts in Netarts, Where Music Meets the Sea, a workshop orchestrated by Dr. Jill Timmons, of Arts Mentor.

I joined about forty other pianists from Oregon, Washington, and California for a weekend of continuing education, beautiful music, friendship, renewal, and stunning scenery.

All events took place in the fire hall of Netarts, a lovely community style meeting space. We enjoyed a concert size Bösendorfer and a concert size Yamaha for the concerts and classes, courtesy of Classic Pianos of Portland.

The weekend kicked off with a Friday evening viola/piano concert in the fire hall featuring Jill Timmons and Laura Klugherz . This fabulous duo played works from the likes of Bréval, Grignon, Ponce, Schubert, Bernstein, and Gershwin, to name a few. Community members and workshops participants filled the concert space.

The following day began gently with body work, specifically, Feldenkrais, led by Laura Klugherz. We then jumped into a full schedule of master classes. The classes highlighted nine different performers including soloists, a four hand duo (at one piano) and two duos playing two pianos.

For those scratching their head about the meaning of a master class, here’s a short explanation. A master class includes a small group of performers, in our case, all professional musicians and a master teacher. Each performer plays a prepared work, and then, the master teacher digs into work and the performance. She addresses body position, articulations, tempo, pedaling, dynamics, expression, phrasing, music history, performance anxiety, and everything in between! It’s like a lesson, but the lesson unfolds in front of forty people.

As a master class performer, I can tell you, the experience is exhilarating, humbling, educational, scary, and a joyful, all at the same time. For our series of master classes, the repertoire ranged from the Baroque period to a work from the late 20th Century. Each performer and duo managed to add unique pieces and pianistic challenges to the mix. The repertoire included works from Hilary Tann, Albénez, Chopin, Charles Wakefield Cadman (my contribution), Debussy, and Lutoslawaski.

The following day started with body work, this time, a yoga class led again by Laura. The morning workshop addressed practicing effectively, the afternoon presentation taught us about the inner workings of the piano. We wrapped up the weekend with a community concert presented by the master class performers.

Of course, in between sessions, we socialized, shared some fantastic meals, visited some local watering holes, and walked around the charming town of Netarts.

Upon reflecting on the weekend and my dedication to continuing education until my very last day on this beautiful earth, I think of the following quote by Seymour Bernstein. “Music speaks concordantly to a troubled world, dispelling loneliness and discontent, it’s voice discovering in it those deep recesses of thought and feeling where truth implants itself. Music offers no quarter for compromise, no excuses, no subterfuge, no shoddy workmanship.”

Dr. Jill Timmons, director of the festival, my mentor and friend, teaches us to practice with full availability of self and also teaches us to give up the idea of perfection in performing. Performing, after all, is a temporal experience. She reminds us, “Perfection only exists in our imagination. We are perfectly imperfect!”

Laura Dean: Musical Artist, Teacher, Author

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