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On November 16, 1959, "The Sound of Music" by Rogers and Hammerstein opened on Broadway. It has become one of the world's most beloved musicals. Several weeks before the show's opening, Oscar Hammerstein was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Prior to being admitted for surgery, the famed lyricist stopped at the theatre where "The Sound of Music" was about to open. He wanted to convey encouragement and inspiration to the play's leading lady, Mary Martin. She would portray the part of Maria Von Trapp in the play.
He gave her a piece of paper on which he had written the words, "A bell is no bell till you ring it. A song is no song till you sing it. Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay. Love isn't love till you give it away."
The words so moved Martin that she stitched the message in needlepoint on a pillow. The pillow remained in her dressing room throughout the entire run of the play. Each evening before going on stage, Mary would read the words and gain the inspiration she needed.
"A bell is no bell till you ring it."
Our St. Stephen's Three Octaves of Bells had undergone a complete refurbishing. It was time. Like people, after many years of use (and sometimes) abuse, readjustments, refurbishing or replacements are necessary.
Our bells had inspired listeners, both here and abroad, since 1971. Twenty some years later it was time for a Bell doctor visit. We found a highly qualified, factory trained specialist in Lakeville, Minnesota, and after a couple of weeks in the Bell Doctor's Hospital our bells were again ready to play and to travel.
Not only did the bells need attention, the original bell cases that we traveled with gave up the ghost after the first trip. They were made out of plywood and proved to be totally unable to withstand the rigors of travel; they were being tossed in and out of airplanes, trains and buses. Funds had to be raised for new "Solid Plastic Travel Cases." Through donations, fundraising concerts and the generosity of the St. Stephen's community, the new cases were purchased and we were ready to "get on the road again." The new cases enabled us to ring our "sounds into many lands."
Our bells did more than just play at St. Stephen's in West St. Paul. Their "travel documents" listed: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland as performance venues.
We learned that in most countries Bell Choirs were totally unknown and at each concert site the Bells attracted much attention. Our audiences experienced the music of the masters in a whole new way, and they were thrilled. Our ringing was a blessing to them; and we, in turn, were blessed by their acceptance. We spoke the universal language of music and they understood.
On the tour that included Austria, we received permission to play and sing in the famed Salzburg Cathedral, as well as in the church of Mondsee, Austria, where the Wedding Processional of "The Sound of Music" was filmed. For musicians, Salzburg Cathedral is indeed "hallowed ground." This is the place where Leopold Mozart, the father, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the son, worked; and we had permission to perform in their former "home."
The Cathedral is a world famous tourist "must see" attraction when visiting Salzburg. Words cannot describe its beauty; and the acoustics are, as expressed by one of our players, "to die for." It is one thing to visit that magnificent structure, but it is so much more overwhelming to be allowed to actually perform in that historic sanctuary.
For me, as the conductor of our vocal and bell ensemble, to be able to conduct music in that space was something I will never forget. It wasn't just the spirits of the musical giants who had been there before that made it such an awesome experience. I actually felt their presence; and somehow, even though some of our music was music of an entirely different time, I felt a sense of "the master's approval."
Our performance was during the daytime when numerous tourist buses would drop their international passengers off by the cathedral doors. As they entered the cathedral they heard and saw our Bells and Vocal Ensemble performing, and they immediately would find an empty pew to sit, watch and listen. Before long we had a sizable audience listening and applauding. Our vocal music was mostly American Gospel (a far cry from a Mozart Mass or Anthem) but the audiences loved it.
When we finished our presentation audience members surrounded our Bell Tables. For most of them, we soon learned, a Bell Choir was something brand new. Two young ladies were escorted to the Bell Tables. They were obviously visually impaired. They spoke English and said they "wanted to see the bells." A couple of our Bell Ringers brought each of the ladies a bell so that they could "see it."
Our ladies helped them to not only "see" the bells, but to also hold and ring them. The smiles on their faces brought tears to ours. Truly, "A bell is no bell till you ring it."
We are very much like the bells. Bells can sound the music of the masters, but until they are rung they are just silent pieces of metal. All of us, like the bells, have the capacity to inspire, and to make the music of the heavens, but until we ring, we are nothing.
Oscar Hammerstein spoke an eternal truth when he wrote, "Love isn't love till you give it away."
The lesson of the bells? Start ringing! Start giving!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Gerrit Lamain is a former Copper Country resident who served as a music professor at Suomi College. He was also the organist for the Michigan Tech hockey team before moving on to the Minnesota North Stars.