Remembrances of Leah Barkan

Leah was a remarkable woman in many ways. Among her many other accomplishments, she and her husband started and ran a company that manufactured "touch-activated" lamps, where one simply touched the base or stem to turn the light on or off.

Her set of notes advising musicians new to playing for dancing about how to make their music danceable and how to create a good band sound & affect are an integral part of many musicians' libraries--I've been handing out copies to scores of people over the past 20+ years!

She was also one of the first musicians I know of to be willing and able to play through a complete afternoon Playford ball prep session, solo. Playing every dance, at the right tempo, with the right feel, playing softly behind the teaching without losing synchronization, without missing a beat or taking an unexpected break or failing to come in right on cue. I remember the first time I worked with her doing that-- back in the 80s I believe--and being amazed. The dancers were too.

Gene Murrow

I am so sorry to learn of Leah's death. Many times, she and I were partners playing for English country dancing, and she was always friendly and totally reliable. She will be missed by many.

Sincerely,

Marshall Barron

Thinking of your community, as you take in this big loss. I was so glad to have seen her at the December ball (when I came to play with the Bares).

Regards,

Jacqueline Schwab

May her memory be a blessing to all of us.

Graham Christian

As many of you know, Country Dancers of Westchester are celebrating the life of longtime pianist Leah Barkan, who passed away in February this year. To honor her memory and her many contributions to the English country dance, I am issuing an "Ode to the Pianist" challenge to the community: I will make a $25 contribution to CDSS for each of the first 10 groups that, between now and November 5, 2017, program and actually dance "Ode to the Pianist," written by Fried Herman in Leah's honor and recently posted to my Childgrove Channel on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/childgrove).

Please send me your program (childgrove at yahoo is fine) and indicate that at your event you did indeed not only program the dance but actually did it (we know those two things are not always the same!). I'll announce to the List those dance groups that make the top ten (unless you tell me not to) once the contest ends on Nov 5.

Why that date? Because on that Sunday, CDW will hold a grand party in Leah’s honor. We hope you’ll mark the day somehow, ideally by joining us at the hall of St.Thomas's Episcopal Church in Mamaroneck, NY, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. There will be glorious music, delightful dances, photos/memorabilia, stories/tributes, and delicious delicacies!

If you don't have Fried’s Serendipity or the sheet music for "Ode to the Pianist," email me and I'll arrange to send it to you (and make a $1 contribution to Fried's dance group, Country Dancers of Westchester, as is the custom).

Paul Ross