Kruse Kronicle

Dad Has Been Fiddling Around Again

—

by

mwkruse
in

My Dad has been playing the fiddle with a string band during Christmas over the past couple of years. This year, one of the suburban editions of the Kansas City Star did a nice write-up on the group he plays with. Here are a couple of scans he emailed me from the newspaper today.

72696cf

7269841

But don't let these pictures fool you into thinking this is the only stuff he plays. He also plays some culturally sophisticated stuff as well. I have seen him play the saw and the spoons, and I have seen him accompany some of his cousins from south central Missouri playing the banjo and the bass fiddle. About ten years ago, while he was teaching in China, he was supposed to play in a New Year's Eve talent show. He emailed me that he needed the words and music to Woodie Guthrie's "Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation." Now that, my friends, is classical music!

Comments

11 responses to “Dad Has Been Fiddling Around Again”

  1. Quotidian Grace Avatar
    Quotidian Grace

    Good for your dad! My brother also plays the fiddle and the banjo–he used to play in a bluegrass band.

    Reply
  2. will spotts Avatar
    will spotts

    Shady Grove String Band . . . I like that.

    Reply
  3. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    The music genes in the family ran out when it got to me. I only know how to play the Ipod. I like some bluegrass but I am secretly a Rockabilly fan. I think my Dad played a lot in church growing up in Oklahoma and Kansas, and it was mostly hymns and gospel.

    Reply
  4. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    I am not sure where the Shady Grove name came from. Guess I should find that out.

    Reply
  5. Ted Gossard Avatar
    Ted Gossard

    Ah, nice! I love creativity in playing music. Never did get to see Rich Mullins. I intended too, and then the Lord took him “home”. But did see the guys he missioned with in New Mexico. Wow. What an assortment of things. And what good music! Nice to hear your father has that in him. Do you have any music like that in you? Or musical ability?

    Reply
  6. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    Ted, my Dad and my three older siblings all play instruments. As for me, I play a pretty mean Ipod.
    I never really had that much interest in learning an instrument but did take some vocal classes in high school. While everyone in else my family plays instruments (except Mom) I, by far, have the widest ranging and most ecclectic tastes in music and listen it to it far more often. Go figure.
    One thing I have observed is the connection between music and scientists. My Dad was a research chemist and I have been around scientists all my life. The great majority of scientists I have met are accomplished at playing some instrument.
    Do you play?

    Reply
  7. Dana Ames Avatar
    Dana Ames

    “Shady Grove” is an upbeat 18th c. folk song that has been appropriated by bluegrass bands- of the “I’ll meet my love in the shady grove, she/he is so sweet, etc.” variety.
    Very good for your dad. That will keep him younger longer.
    Rockabilly, huh? Very interesting…
    Dana

    Reply
  8. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    “Very good for your dad. That will keep him younger longer.”
    He turns 80 in June. He just sent me his brochure for the next whirlwind education tour of China is organizing for later this year. He does one every year. He has more energy than I do.
    “Rockabilly, huh? Very interesting…”
    hehehe
    The secret is out. I was born and lived my early years in Oklahoma. Sometimes you just can’t shake off the roots. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    BTW, thanks for the Shady Grove background. I will have to see if that is indeed what inspired the name.

    Reply
  10. Ted Gossard Avatar
    Ted Gossard

    Michael, I do love music and have some music in me. I play guitar in a simple way, mainly by ear. And can play piano to some extent reading music. And raised a Mennonite, I enjoy acappella singing in which I now sing something between a tenor and a bass (low baritone?).

    Reply
  11. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    “low baritone”
    Me too. I did take two years of piano as a kid but evidently not enough music in me that it just had to get out. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Kruse Kronicle

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading