Transcript

File: morrisonrita-oh--musichome_M.mp3

Speakers:

RM – Rita Morrison

KP – Curator Ken Perlman

RM It was a family of ten.

KP Are you related to Joe MacDonald?

RM Not related, no, but we were very close friends over the years. They lived right across the creek from us. There was a creek between us and their place. And over the winter months they used to come across in a horse and sleigh: just a short ride. And they'd take their fiddles. Once they started playing –Allan and Joe they used to take their fiddles and come down, and I would accompany them on the organ at that time.

KP The pump organ?

RM The pump organ. That was before we had a piano. And we used to have lots of fun, lots of fun. And they'd come play for little dances we'd have, because we had a big kitchen, there was 10 of us after all, there was a big kitchen with hardwood floor and it was really good for dancing. So we had lots of parties there, lots of parties. And they were always good to come to play. And their father was – He didn't play much, but he played some: enough to encourage them to play. So we grew up in that atmosphere of music. My mother was - She was good on the organ. She used to play in the church for years, and it's from her I got my music I think, because I loved to listen to her play and I used to try to do what she did. And in the end of it I was able to go and play in the church as well. Although I didn't have as much music as she had, as much music training – She had more training than I had. But I had a great ear for music, so I used to pick it up pretty fast.