For many years, we made a joyful noise every evening after the dishes were done and the kitchen was cleaned up. Our repertoire included Broadway show tunes, sacred, spirituals, ballads, gospel, jazz, blues – both harmony and unison. And, of course, The Mennonite Hymnal  in all of its versions, The Life Songs, Sing the Journey, and other hymn books going back to Mother’s childhood.

For our household, a DVD-CD Changer was an essential item for every day. Almost non-stop music set a joyful tone and created an upbeat environment during our wakeful hours. Over the years, we purchased two in this price range.

We liked all kinds of music, but overdosed on Southern gospel, because of its bold, colorful imagery. It fit with our use of metaphors since we were, after all, “the ranchers”  living at “the ranch.” At one point, when a Gaither recording was on, I heard Mother boldly articulating “fathomless billows of love” – while folding towels. I looked to the screen and then I looked at her to see if she was reading the sub-titles. But no, she was singing her inner joy from deep inside: Fathomless billows of love.

A favorite – “Climb Every Mountain”  from The Sound of Music. We sang it to the rafters.

We used Post-it flags to mark our favorite songs in every songbook. We had literally hundreds  of favorite songs – and hundreds  of red flags. They are removable and repositionable, so as to not damage the pages of music.

We had many uses for Sharpies and always kept one at the piano. At a certain point, we highlighted the first line of hymns – for Mother to be able to follow the words more easily.

Replacing fluorescent lamps many years ago, I found these great high-density, natural lighting Full Spectrum Solutions provided tremendous relief for eye strain. We used this desk model at the piano. While high-end for my budget, I’m still using them after making several residential moves. For my long hours of reading, they have become “essential.”

We did some recording during our years at the ranch and used a mic similar to this one.

An excellent purchase for the piano – especially when learning all-new music. Learning new music…?!? Yes, it was something which we did over the course of many years while continuing to sing the “old” music as well. For me, this dispelled the long-standing myths about people with dementia not being able to learn new material. It was one of our greatest pleasures to master another piece of heavenly music! We included new music in all genres!

13 variations of Happy Birthday for the piano, including swing, sentimental, blues, rag, waltz, ostinato, ballad, Latin, birthday bells, capriccio, and fugue.

Once we had this book, the birthday of every family member from Baltimore and DC to the Midwest and on to Scottsdale was remembered and celebrated by the ranchers – with a musical message left on each voice mail. It was always a lively rendition of our birthday song with one of the 13 variations. And it was always an energizing experience for the ranchers to recognize and remember each family member by name in this way.

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Agnus Dei, Op. 11 (Barber Adagio) [Excerpt] – Barber
Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11 – Faure
Missa Papae Marcelli: I. Kyrie – Palestrina
Ave verum corpus, K. 618 – Mozart
Cantata No.147, ‘Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben’ BWV147: X “Jesu bleibet meine Freude” [Jesu, Joy o – Bach
Vespers, Op. 37: VI. Ave Maria – Choir Of New College Oxford
Enigma Variations, Op. 36: X. Nimrod, “Lux aeterna” – Choir Of New College Oxford
Totus tuus, Op. 60 – Choir Of New College Oxford
Hear my Prayer (O for the Wings of a Dove) – Mendelssohn
The Lamb – Tavener
Requiem in D Minor, Op. 48: VII. In Paradisum – Faure
Miserere mei – Choir Of New College Oxford

Disc 1 of 2 discs with Various Artists
Kathleen Battle (Artist), Placido Domingo (Artist), Montserrat Caballe (Artist)

Requiem in D Minor, K. 626: I. Requiem aeternam    
Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45: Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit
Matthäuspassion, BWV 244: Erbarme Dich
Stabat Mater, P. 77: I. Stabat mater dolorosa
Miserere mei Deus
Requiem, Op.48: Pie Jesu Ave verum corpus, K. 618     
Requiem: Dies irae: Recordare
Agnus Dei
Requiem, Op. 148: Requiem aeternam
Stabat Mater, RV 621:
Stabat Mater: Largo
Stabat Mater: Inflammatus et accensus   
Selig sind die Toten
Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45: Herr, lehre doch mich
Alleluia 

Kommt, Ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen – Thomas Hamberger
Vocalise, No. 14 – Norman Luboff Choir
Surely He hath borne our griefs – Sir Thomas Beecham
And with His stripes we are healed – Sir Thomas Beecham
All we like sheep have gone astray – Sir Thomas Beecham
Lacrimosa – Sir Colin Davis
Crucifixus – Robert Shaw Orchestra
Agnus Dei, Op.11 – The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Plorate filii Israel – Konrad Junghänel
Lacrymosa – Veriano Luchetti
Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder – Enoch zu Guttenberg
Spem in alium – Wilbur Pauley

Sous Le Dome Epais (Vocalise)  
Pavane  
Canto Invierno  
Pastorale  
Casta Diva From Norma 
Enchantment  
Song of My Soul
Infinite Voice
Saint Agnes and the Burning Train  
Gabriel’s Oboe – Nella Fantasia From the Mission
Sheep May Safely Graze – Schafe Konnen Sicher Weiden
Sous Le Dome Epais From Lakme