Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Calliope music cheerfully announced the circus parade’s arrival, filling the air with excitement. Children and adults alike ran to the streets to see a troupe of performers marching with exotic animals in brightly painted carriages. In 1961, as Burchfield planned a large painting of his 1917 impressions, he ordered a record “called ‘Crazy Calliope’ (which one reviewer said should be pronounced “Cally-ope” as we used to at the turn of the century) played by Margie Meinert of a Wurlitzer Steam Calliope built in 1895 – using the popular songs of the first two decades of our century –” The music made him feel like a child again. “While Bertha was preparing lunch, I played ‘The Tiger Rag’ & ‘Camptown Races’ Incredible music! and what boyhood memories it evoked!”

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 60, December 14, 1961, p. 153.
                                                                     Dec. 14, (Thurs.) –
     About 2 or 3 inches of snow – alternate sunlight and clouds, a brisk wind from the S.W. a delightful early winter day.
     Mid A.M. – Sally called – she has been Christmas shopping every morning this week – Everything was OK she said.
     Working in the studio some on drawings. Made a few corrections on the “May 9, 1917” drawing (Circus Parade) but did not mount it. Worked on the “November” studies I had mounted.
     After lunch we went food shopping – then home.
     Evening Belle called to say Joe had had a slight heart attack, but was again “up and around.”
                                                                             -----
 The recording of Virgil Thomson’s “Plow that Broke the Plains” and “The River” arrived about noon. I played it during our lunch, and again at bed-time — We liked it on the first hearing; but it is only on the second hearing that its real beauty begins to show. At first one notices the use of hymns and folks [sic] songs and fails to grasp the real meat of the music.