Old Cole

Recently, my wife and I made a Saturday jaunt to Circus City, more commonly known as Peru, Indiana. Peru has a long and interesting connection to the circus. Recently a fire, which destroyed an adjacent building, caused considerable damage to Peru’s Circus Museum. But, repairs will be made, and a visit to that facility is highly recommended.

The circus was not really the reason we visited Peru that Saturday. My wife and I share a passion for the music of Cole Porter, a Peru native. We went to Peru to attend the Cole Porter festival that is held annually in June. In particular, we wanted to attend a concert at the Miami County Historical Museum consisting almost entirely of his music.

At first, the circumstances at the concert tended to confirm my fear that appreciation for Cole Porter music will evaporate over the years. I was rather disappointed by the small crowd, made up mostly of couples our age or even older. However, I was not disappointed by the music! A young pianist, a Peru native now attending Butler University, played a rendition of “Anything Goes” that brought the audience to its feet. The high school music teacher sang “Begin the Beguine,” our favorite piece, and played several numbers on the saxophone.

The last portion of the concert was a short performance by the Peru High School Swing Choir. They did their regular show, and then finished with a medley of Porter music. My strong hunch is that performing the medley is a dreaded chore for the swing choir, something that must be done at this annual event for the benefit of the old folk. Hearing them sing, however, gave me great hope. I am convinced that singing the medley is planting seeds in these talented young musicians that will be manifested later in their lives. They will hear “Night and Day” on an elevator twenty years from now, and then use whatever technology is in vogue to capture and listen to past recordings. I hope they find the Frank Sinatra version.

We left the concert, drove by the Cole Porter birthplace, then continued home full of hope that our grandchildren and great grandchildren will have the opportunity to listen to some of the best music ever written and performed.
- Tom Bredeweg