Easthampton High School - Echo Yearbook (Easthampton, MA)

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APPRECIATION OF MR. LOVELL In the retirement of Mr. W. L. Lovell, the school has lost a highly-valued and beloved teacher. Mr. Lovell came to Easthampton in 1899 and taught music in the public schools for 35 years until his retirement last year. He had his heart in his work and would give unsparingly of his personal time to any pupil who showed interest and desire to work. He not only taught music but played different instruments. He is a remarkable man who will always be remembered with respect and affection. Mr. Lovell's concerts, which were greatly appreciated by the townspeople, will never be forgotten by lovers of great music, especially those of us who were so fortunate as to take part in them. He spent many untiring hours in the work he loved best. Never satisfied with anything short of the best, he worked long and with infinite patience to perfect a piece of Work. These annual concerts were the consummation of the work of a whole year. The proceeds were used to buy instruments and to provide for the annual music prizes. It is hoped that, in the near future, Mr. Lovell will honor us again by giving us some more of his splendid concerts. ADELE LAPRADE, E. H. S., l35 AN APPRECIATION Dedicating the High School Echo to YVilliam L. Lovell, the Echo Board not only honors Mr. Lovell, but itself in its discriminating choice of one who has given so many years of valued service to the students in the public schools, and to the townsfolk as well. The keys to knowledge open many doors,-that of Music has opened so widely to many through the untiring efforts, unstinting zeal, and musical ability of Mr. Lovell. A student and lover of the works of the masters, he has inculcated into the minds and hearts of his pupils a knowledge and love of music lore that will always remain with them. When Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, and the other masters Wove a pattern of melody and musical charm into their compositions for the generations then unborn, it was the prayer of each of them that there would come after them those who would turn the pages and reveal the messages of joy or despair, love or sorrow, that colored their own lives. One has but to talk with the mem- bers of Mr. Lovell's orchestra, for that is what it will always be called by all of us, to know that it has been the supreme delight of him wl1o has been the teacher and leader of a high school orchestra, second to none. Not only the musical score, but the study of the lives of the great masters has been the privilege of his pupils through his training and access to his valuable musical library. Tolerant of the modern composers, many of their compositions were in- cluded in the versatile program presented by the orchestra each year. eight

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We the Board of Editors, dedicate this 1935 issue of our High School Echo, to Mr. William L. Lovell Supervisor of music in the Public Schools of Easthampton 1899 - 1934 Guide, Philosopher, and Friend SGUCYI-

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Varied, also, have been the fine selections chosen for the Glce Club, always keeping in mind the young voices that must not be strained, but guarded for days to come when the lovely tones would grow richer and fuller with the years. One must not forget the delighted and sympathetic audience that listened year after year to beautiful playing and singing, completing the musical family, -the player, the singer, and the listener, all wafted backward to the years of long ago when Mendelssohn, and the other masters, God's choicest gifts to man, wove the harmonies that will endure through the ages. We, the Alumni of the Easthampton' high school salute you, William I.. Lovell! We wish you God speed, and many years among us. MARY FRANCES Downn, E. H. S. '94 UP TO MR. LOVELL'S RO0M Reprinted by permission of The Springfield Republican Easthampton, May 4- It was the passing of a town institution when W. L. Lovell's music room in the Main-street block was given up this year. For 25 years it has been the loved meeting place of people of all ages and all nation- alities in Easthampton. As early as 7 o'clock on summer mornings small boys assembled on the steps waiting for it to open. Midnight often saw its closing for older people. All day and every day there was something doing there. The room itself im- pressed you as a place essentially for young people, a music workshop, rather than the regulation music studio, Mr. Lovell had a way of making his pupils interested, not only in playing music, but in everything about music-how different instruments were made, how played how repaired, what parts you had to buy for them, how the music for them was written. So it was no wonder there was usually an interested group looking through the glass doors of the big book cases at the boxes of strings, bridges, reeds, and other accessories, and at the violins, flutes, clarinets and other instruments he had on hand. The older pupils were fascinated with the piles of orchestral compositions and the tiny score books beside them. He got many of his pupils interested to learn to read the music for and to play more than one instrument. One earnest high school boy learned to arrange the empty chairs in orchestra fashion and prac- ticed reading a score and giving cues to an imaginary orchestra. Reading scores as victrola or radio symphonies were being played was another activity often seen. The desk table was always piled high with sheet music and manuscript music, a flute or horn or 'cello part being worked out in simpler form for some beginner in the orchestra. At this table the use of the queer pen for writing nine