The image shows my late father Ralph in the first-ever UMM yearbook which was called "Venture." Heady times of formation. Thanks to Del Sarlette for scanning photo.
We hear people talking about having "the best Christmas ever." It would seem to be human nature, wanting to seek the warmest thoughts about what is current. And it's a wonderful objective to have. Kind of an illusion, though, because every Christmas has the potential to bring maximum joy. And they all truly do.
At age 69 I have been through such a string of holiday seasons. Of course they can seem jumbled together in your mind. I associate certain time periods with the dogs we have had. We always put a little gift under the tree for our dog, labeled "from Santa." Maybe a chew bone. And my father developed a family tradition of giving yours truly a wrapped 12-pack of Mello Yello soft drink. We'd laugh because this gift could not be disguised by the wrapping.
So, what is the status of my personal Christmas in the year of 2024? It's a hundred years since my mom was born in Brainerd MN. She and Dad are in heaven. It is essential that the memory of my parents not be locked in UMM's past. My dad gets top billing in that regard as he launched the UMM music program. I was five years old at that seminal time.
Dad directed the first-ever UMM music concert at the Morris armory. Maybe you do not know that the armory was in a different location then. It's easy to describe: it was where the public library is now. The historic first concert was for a big gathering of 4-H youth and their families. No better way to have connected with the broad Morris area community! The Morris newspaper wrote at the time that the numbers for band were better than what was expected. So important for UMM to take a solid first step not only in music but in everything.
I'm told that today, the UMM music department really wants to focus on the present rather than to pay homage to any past directors. I don't blame them at all. The present really means everything. But I won't let them completely get away with that! And what do I mean? I helped ensure that the Williams name would stay directly relevant to UMM in the present and the future. And, what surefire way would there be, to accomplish that?
I saw to it that a "Ralph and Martha Williams Fund" would be established. If any of you out there with memories of my parents would like to contribute, by all means. Contact Erin Christensen at UMM. I have a personal tradition of adding to this fund every Christmas season. I use the UMM mailing address on the Twin Cities campus. There is such a thing. I get nice reliable service. Ordinarily, you might want to do a hail Mary when you send a letter to the big (foreboding) Twin Cities campus of the behemoth 'U'. A behemoth, yes, but a most productive place on Minnesota's behalf.
I have had the pleasure of attending an event for U donors at the McNamara Center. To do this I drove through Minneapolis at 5 p.m. on a weekday. Scary! I think I used the word "foreboding" previously in this post. Let's toss it out again. I earned a medal for navigating successfully, and the whole evening was wonderful. (I insisted on a non-alcohol drink which put them out a little.)
When names were flashed up on the screen, I made sure mine would appear with my "R" middle initial. That's the name "Ralph" which was my father's name. Super thrill to see that 1939 'U' grad Ralph was being acknowledged in this way so long after. He had memories of Bernie Bierman coaching the Gophers! Dad got both his undergraduate and Master's degrees from the U.
Metro Ralph
This rural Glenwood native became a real "big city guy" from the '30s through the '50s. You should see his scrapbooks. He had a background that would have allowed him to direct a jazz group at UMM. But not even the college culture was ready for jazz in the 1960s. Hell, college culture was not even ready for women's athletics in the 1960s. Imagine what a different world it was from today. It's tough enough to imagine a world without the Internet!
Smartphones? We weren't smart enough I guess. Now when you show up for the UMM graduation, you're told to call up the program on your Smartphone. I have kept up with a lot of the new technology but I lag in some areas. You can see that I can handle a couple of blog sites.
My mother managed the campus post office for many years. She had a reputation for having such a swift gait walking across campus. Someone - I don't know who - took a photo of this for us: Mom scurrying along.
The Ralph and Martha Williams Fund of course is set up to support UMM music. It is a challenged department these days for numbers, but this is happening everywhere. My friend Michael Lackey of the UMM faculty says that we haven't seen the most daunting times yet as this will happen in 2026. And he says "everyone who works in higher education knows this is coming."
If the worst happens and real draconian cuts are made, I am assured (by Erin) that contingencies exist for everything. Everything. So I'm comfortable knowing that. Even if it comes down to our fund supporting music at the big bad "main campus," I can live with that.
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Our HFA building (my own photo)
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But my goodness, whither the HFA here in Morris? It's an ugly duckling on the campus. Its design was considered avant garde at the time it was drawn up. I'll remind you that there was a time when everyone wanted to be avant garde and unconventional. It was quite the societal fashion. Forget about things being "utilitarian," my God. Well, that was then, this is now. The UMM HFA recital hall was the site for a wonderful concert Friday night. And on the night before, there was a mixed student recital. I attended both. The Friday performance was particularly delightful, exceeded my expectations. It had the holiday theme.
I think there was a time in UMM's past when "Silent Night" could not be performed in a UMM concert. Obviously quite sacred. I actually think my father ran up against a wall with this.
And then the great loosening happened. Why? I think it was because a gospel choir of African-American students formed. And considering UMM's historic progressive and inclusive attitudes through the years, my goodness how could anyone stand in the way of anything that an African-American choir wanted to do? I write all this very approvingly. I remember Carol McCannon leading a standing ovation for that group once at Oyate.
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Simon Tillier, UMM music man
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And so today, I think the attitude about "sacred" there, in music, is that "music is art" and it is not presented with the idea of promoting religion. An ensemble performed in the hallway before the Friday concert. Yes, there's plenty of room in the HFA hallway, no doubt about that! Refreshments were served there also. Quite the overall festive mood. Congrats to Yulene and Simon! And Simon, be careful as you continue riding your bike around town!
My personal annual addition to the Ralph and Martha Williams Fund is a thousand dollars. Maybe doesn't seem like much in today's context. And I don't overlook high school music either. I contributed $2000 to help with the MAHS band's New Orleans trip. So maybe that spared Wanda having to oversee one more hectic fundraiser!
Is this the best Christmas ever? Oh heck, they're all special.
She's the UMM choir master now: Yulene Velásquez.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
