Music of the Eclipse in Richmond, IN
The music of the 2024 eclipse was one of absolute silence during the four minutes of Totality! Dr. Wes Tobin, Assistant Professor of Physics at Indiana University East explained exactly what would happen when the moon eclipsed the sun. “There will be silence. The birds will go to their nest, the bees will drive into the grass if not near their hives. Cows, horses and dogs will run thinking a storm is coming.”
The temperature dropped ten degrees, and the lights came on at IUE campus where we watched this celestial event. The IUE campus was just one of many places throughout Wayne County that brought visitors to view the eclipse from all over the country selling out hotel rooms including ours at the Comfort Suites!
The total eclipse happened on April 8, 2024. I was hosted by Visit Richmond Indiana. Richmond and Wayne County are a beautiful area! My friend Linda Spanberger came with me, and we experienced the Eclipse weekend with over 52 activities to choose from. The music of the eclipse and the surrounding activities totally captivated us.
The Concerts!
There were many more opportunities to listen to music than Linda and I could ever try. However, we selected two great events. We picked a Journey Tribute Band, and a blues band!
Nancy Sartain, our gracious hostess at Visit Richmond picked us up and took us to the Richmond Elks Club to hear a Journey Tribute Band. The hall was packed with visitors ready to hear music during this busy eclipse weekend. Then there was the bar area which was almost as packed with those watching the Top Ten basketball tourney.
The lead singer had just joined the New Frontiers out of Dallas Texas. No one would ever believe it was their first time playing together. They were spot on, theatrical and fun. They almost outlasted us playing for an hour over closing time until 11:00 p.m. Being a farm girl, I go usually go to bed with the sunset and rise with the chickens!
The next evening, we met up with Nancy and Julie of Visit Richmond along with their families at the New Boswell Brewery and Taproom Venue. Here we had the chance to listen to Howard & the White Boys, a great blues band from Chicago, Linda’s hometown!
Music History
Besides the music we listened to most evenings of our weekend visit, we also learned about some fascinating local music history as well! We loved the Gennett Records Walk of Fame, which was established by the Starr-Gennett Foundation.
This walk located in Whitewater Gorge Park honors musicians that recorded for Gennett Records, a subsidiary of the Starr Piano Company. Artists are represented by ceramic and bronze medallions. They include Lawrence Welk, Hogy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and more. Nancy shared that this was a place where African American singers were able to record when many other companies were closing their doors to them.
Near the walk of fame, is a former Starr building turned event center. Nancy talked about how up the hill from the gorge, that German settlers lived at the top. There were stairs that descended to the gorge and the piano tuners would navigate them, come to the Starr Piano factory, work, and climb back up them at the end of the day. While I wouldn’t want to give them a try now, we were able to see these historic stairs.
There is also a marker where the recording studio (which is gone today) was located. This is a great nature walk where if you go a bit further you can walk on a bridge across the White River!
More Music and Culture at Reid Center
Besides the Gennett Walk of Fame, another place to find Starr Piano history is at Reid Center.
Linda, and I attended a Tiffany Windows tour at this former Presbyterian Church where every window is a Tiffany.
The church was built by Daniel Reid in honor of his parents. The interior of the church was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The church has a 1905 Richmond made Starr concert grand piano!
Along with the piano they also have a beautiful 1906 Hook & Hastings pipe organ. During the eclipse they had several eclipse events going on.
Music of nature
While in town for the eclipse weekend, we had the opportunity to head out into nature. At Hayes Arboretum, we heard the music of the birds singing as we hiked the beautiful property.
The visitor’s center has a bird viewing area where you can watch in comfort. There is also an auto drive if you don’t want to hoof it.
At the Four-Leaf Honey Farm, Lance Alexander shared the music of the buzzing of the bees. He opened up his demonstration hive for us to view. This 3rd generation beekeeper is a retired equine veterinarian. At Four Leaf Honey Farm, sell their honey, teach bee keeping classes and sell the needed equipment for those already in the hobby, and those that want to start.
So much to do!
Richmond Indiana offers a historic stop like the Levi Coffin House and Wayne County Historical Museum. They have myriad of activities and events throughout the year, like the Ice Melt Festival in January and more! Come see all there is to do and listen for the music of this lovely Hoosier state. Did you go somewhere and hear music of the eclipse? I’d love to hear your story too!
