The Apple Club Newsletter, Autumn 2006, Page 4

In our summer newsletter I wrote about soccer. This time I will write about music.
I think singing is our first music. Babies make noises which we might call singing. That is what some parents say anyway. Most people keep singing during their lives. From weddings to funerals. And we are told that we will sing in heaven.
When I was a child and went to school in Holland, we sang every morning in the classrooms, even though as boys we considered it "sissy" to sing. But tonight the National Garda Choir will sing in Ardfinnan, and the Guards are no cissies for sure.
Still I liked it, and got 8 out of 10 on my school report. I still have that report now, sixty years later. I still sing now when I go to Church on Sunday in St. Paul's in Cahir. David Butler is the organist, and although there are only a few people there, we sign hymns like "The Lord is my Shepherd". Maggie Davis sings there also. She is a music teacher and very good singer. I probably annoy everybody by trying to sing in harmony. This year we will have a carol service on the 17th of December at 7.30pm and I hope we sing "Silent Night". That is my favourite carol. Why don't you join us on that night?
Now it is not only people who sing. Animals sing too. Think of all the birds. Nightingales are supposed to sing best of all. I even thought that I once heard a Nightingale on our farm. But Dan Hogan said to me: "You must have been dreaming Willem, there are no Nightingales in Ireland".
Dogs like music too. Our Labrador, Judy, is never happier than when I sing. A voice is magic. Think of a childs voice; how it carries. Every voice is different, just like our ears are different.
Enough about people singing now. Instruments sing when people play them. A violin, a flute, a trumpet, a drum or an organ, a piano, and so many more. In Holland we had a house organ and I could play our National Anthem on it. There was no time or money for lessons.
But in our village we had a "fanfare corps", and a music stand in the centre of the village. They would play on Queensday and on other occasions, just like the Clonmel Band does. And the band would dance after their performance, and even drink alcohol. I could not join; it was not approved of in many Protestant families.
I remember when the band marched through our village and played with all their instruments blazing. I almost cried with the sensation, and I got goose bumps all over my back.
Now I could go on writing about music. It is one of those wonderful things in life. But don't play a mouth organ, because as you know, the definition of a gentleman is: somebody who can play a mouth organ, but does not do it.

Now for the competition, which is open to anyone up to and including 12 years old. First prize is a €20.00 Easons voucher, and the runner(s) up get a €10.00 voucher for use at our farm shop.

Competition questions:

Well done to our spring competition entrants.
The winner was Alannah from Newbridge.
Second place went to James from Rathordan.
And third was Kevin from Capparoe.

Music, By Willem Traas

Spring competition winners:

Newsletter Autumn 2006		page 4 of 4