2010 Annual Meeting

14 Mar 2010 Annual Meeting

On March 14, 2010, Jim Leary, professor of Folklore and Scandinavian studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was the guest speaker.  He talked about Norwegian Folk Music in Wisconsin and played examples of recordings from the 1930’s and 1940’s.  His selections included tunes on a Hardanger fiddle, an Old World cow call, an immigrant ballad, and McFarland’s own Psalmodikon Quartet.  He also talked about the Goose Island Ramblers, a local group performing folk music around Dane County for many years.  Some members of the audience remembered listening to this group’s music.

Members were enthusiastic about Dr. Leary’s presentation and were especially interested in the Psalmodikon Quartet of women in the community that performed together for many years and even traveled to Washington, D.C. to play their music.  According to Dr. Leary, the Psalmodikon was used quite often to accompany hymn singing in church when the congregation could not afford an organ, since the instrument was relatively easy to build and learn to use.[/vc_column_text]