In “Song of the Sandhills” Old Jules has spent his entire $2100 inheritance (a significant amount of money in 1909) on an Edison Phonograph and hundreds of wax cylinder recordings, even though his family is very poor and the children need winter boots. The high point of the musical is the arrival of the phonograph on Christmas Eve. The whole community comes to hear the “talking machine” and to celebrate the marvelous music. In end, the pig gets into the lean-to and eats many of the best records.
The heart of the
musical is based on Mari Sandoz’s memoir, “The Christmas of the Phonograph
Records.” Additional events are
taken from her best-selling 1935 biography of her father, Old Jules.
The musical contains 14 original songs evocative of the events and
characters.
Act I, Scene 1 A jury convicts Old Jules of assault with a deadly weapon based on testimony by his enemy, Henry Freese.
Act I, Scene 2
Mary and her friend Sonya can the fruits of the harvest while the
children along
with John Freese stretch taffy.
Act I, Scene 3
Old Jules and Mary quarrel over his squandering his inheritance on a
phonograph. Old Jules is called out
in the blizzard to deliver Sonya’s baby.
Act I, Scene 4
Old Jules returns and reports about the difficult birth.
It is too late to hunt for a Christmas tree.
Act II, Scene 1
Neighbors deliver phonograph and records on Christmas Eve.
Act II, Scene 2
Neighbors and relatives join the family in celebrating Christmas and the
arrival of the phonograph. Old
Jules allows his enemy Henry Freese to come in and hear the music.
Act II, Scene 3 The family and friends view Halley’s Comet as the pig eats many of the best records.