A recent musical program at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center took attendees back in time — 100 years to be exact.
“The National Park Service is turning 100 this year and they asked us to present a program with songs from 1916,” Save the Tunes spokesperson John Burnett, of Porter, said as he unpacked his guitar to perform in the Music Heritage Series: Songs from 1916 show. “Each of our members will be introducing some of those oldies, but I don’t know exactly which ones.”
The reason for the informal agenda is that Save the Tunes is a musical group that works within their own spontaneity. They present a monthly program as part of the Music Heritage Series at the Visitors Center, with a different theme each time.
“We play the Hit Parade of the last 400 years,” Burnett added with a laugh.
Twelve members of the group took to the stage for the recent session, which highlighted Jazz and Ragtime eras, World War I and patriotism as part of the 1916 Hit Parade. Each member chose his or her own song.
After bringing out their instruments, ranging from an accordion and banjo to several guitars, the ensuing activities lit up the audience. The auditorium was almost full to capacity of 100 seats.
The microphone was situated center stage in front of all the players; and as each took their turn there, they gave a short history lesson behind the song they were performing. Once started, other musicians joined in.
And it was definitely an audience participation evening as well, with many visitors singing or humming along and/or tapping their toes. And that wasn’t hard to do, as strains of “Pretty Baby” and other popular songs filled the room.
“Our neighbors from Chesterton told us about this musical group last year and we’ve been coming ever since,” Kari Littleton said, as she and three family members took their seats. “This group is so much fun. They make you want to sing or at least hum along.”
Garth Taylor of Three Oaks, Michigan, also heard about the folk group through word of mouth. He is president of Three Oaks Arts & Education Center in that city.
“I’ve been wanting to get a similar music program started at our Center and came here tonight to see what was involved,” he said. “And to get the real feel of it, I brought my guitar if they let me play.”
They did, and the upbeat music continued throughout the evening.
Pauline and Bob Constable of Chesterton were making their first visit to a Save the Tunes performance.
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“Offering this (show) for no charge and in such a nice place is a wonderful thing,” Pauline Constable said. “More people need to know about this.”
Save the Tunes is a local musicians group that began in 1990.
Founding member Marti Pizzini of Chesterton started the idea of encompassing many genres of music.
The group has expanded over the years, with some of the musicians still performing, while others have moved on, she said.
It’s all volunteer work and their mission is to support the interpretive music of the lakeshore, Pizzini added. History lessons are the little extra that goes along with each song during the shows.
And judging by the usually full to capacity crowds that attend each month, there’s quite a bit of history being absorbed.
Strictly a volunteer crew, the musicians used to practice together at Pizzini’s house and various church basements. Currently, practices aren’t held on a regular basis, only at the convenience of all involved.
As they have for the past 26 years, Save the Tunes will carry on their tradition of transporting their instruments, history scripts and creativity to the stage at the Indiana Dunes Visitors Center each month.
There is never a charge to attend, and creativity is the name of the game, so you never know what to expect.
“You almost want to get up and dance whenever you hear them play,” Harry Jackson of Chesterton said, with a laugh, at the recent show. “This music puts us all in a good mood.”
More information about upcoming Music Heritage Series performances can be found at 219-395-1882.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.