Fitting for the month that Valentine’s Day took place, the Foothills Music Club turned its attention to romance and music of the heart at its meeting last week at the home of Janet Joens in Tryon.

Some songs that fit this amorous theme included Jeanette Comer’s vocal medley, “The Heart of the Matter,” which included 14 brief excerpts “from the heart,” accompanied by Jeanette Shackelford. Another was “Damon’s Petition to Cupid,” a trio of recorder, bass viola da gamba and keyboard from the 17th century, and “Doulce Mémoire,” played on melodica by Fran Demoretcky, with lyrics that told a bittersweet love tale.

Attendees enjoyed “If No One Ever Marries Me,” a song imagining the thoughts of a little girl, one of three songs sung by Rita Stobbe and accompanied by
Karen Crutchfield. Among the other pieces was “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” performed by Marcy Hagen, soprano, with Janet Joens on the piano.

Tying into the theme, refreshments included heart-shaped sugar cookies.

The club is currently looking forward to its annual organ program, which will be open to the public. The concert will take place March 8 at the Tryon Congregational Church. Other music is also on the program, besides the featured organ compositions.

The goals of the Foothills Music Club include encouraging musicians to develop their own musicianship, and facilitating the development of young music students through the FMC Scholarship program.

More information is available at foothillsmusicclub.org.

– Submitted by Dick Bayley