Saturday, Nov. 8, marked the opening of deer season in Minnesota. While blaze orange-clad hunters were perched quiet and no doubt chilled in their deer stands, a formidable group of Ely musicians known as Henry’s Wives was warm and making merriment at The Ely Steakhouse, with no other reason than taking the opportunity to get together with one another. The private dining room with tables set in-square, water goblets filled, lights dimmed and Early English music playing provided the perfect backdrop for a rare get-together luncheon. Great food, abundant laughter, song and detailed musical memories of days gone by were shared and treasured by all in attendance!

Henry’s Wives was a “spin off” group that originated from the Ely Music and Drama Club in the 1960s. The original four, Marcia Homer—leader of the group for over fifty years— Jane Wager, Mary Levander and Sylvia Dobler began with the intent to study Early English music and learn to play wooden recorders.

They all decided to purchase quality Küng brand recorders from Switzerland. This was brought to fruition when Sylvia Dobler and her physician husband traveled overseas to visit their native countries of Germany and Switzerland. The original recorders have served the Wives all these years! Throughout fifty-plus years, many other ladies have shared their time and talents. Doris Hautala, soprano recorder player, was one of the first. So were Margaret Vos, the tenor recorder player who moved away to Mexico several years ago, and longtime cellist, Marian Cherne, who passed away in 2012. The 1980s brought some lively changes to the group. Percussionist Denise Dreschler added rhythmic sounds with her tambourine, drums and castanets. Then came the singers, Steve Schon-tenor and dancer, Deb Hanson-soprano and dancer and Lynn O’Hara-alto and finger cymbalist. Other characters, Nina VanGelder-flutist, Karen McManus-oboist and Keiko-Williams-violinist, joined the group in the 1990s.

Each of the performers selected one of the six wives of Henry VIII to portray during performances. When the group ran out of wives to choose from, mistresses and a cousin were added. All characters were historically accurate and relevant to the period. Music, dancing, light humor coupled with clever bantering, and historic commentaries were shared with the audience during a Henry’s Wives performance. There was plenty of humor as well, such as when the mistresses would feed the king grapes or dab the corners of his mouth with a napkin.

For the most part, each member designed and sewed their own colorful period costumes. In the event a particular “wife” did not sew, another court member provided seamstress skills. Sometimes, the women had to improvise. Once, while this reporter was living in a rental house in Ely, I had no time to purchase fabric for a new costume. Instead, I pulled the sheer curtains off one of the house’s windows for the sleeves of my new summer gown. Of course, I later replaced the rental curtains!

The costumes were laden with jewels, fancy trims, lace, fur and made of damask, velvet, organdy and all kinds of odds and ends procured over the course of the years.

The decades have been filled with all sorts of performances by Henry’s Wives. The fact that several of the Wives were school teachers provided an opportunity for educational performances in Ely and other Iron Range schools throughout the early years. Other venues included: Land of the Loon Festival, a Governor’s luncheon at Ironworld, Blueberry Festival, the Women’s luncheon for art supporter Alice Nettel at the Coates Hotel in Virginia where singers crammed into a small bathroom to warm up their voices prior to performing. There was Paul and Laurie Kess’s wedding out near the Kawishiwi River, fundraising concerts for renovating Washington Auditorium, and Tuesday Night Live Concerts, too. Mary Levander recalled playing at the first ECR Art Auction in Ely at the Community Center. Marcia Homer remembered when Governor Rudy Perpich attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new theater at Vermilion Community College with Henry’s Wives playing at the reception. Funny and awkward memories of vehicle breakdowns while in costume or having to change clothes in the back of a van dot the pages of the group’s colorful journal.

There were so many years and so many memories. The singers recalled practicing at Marian Cherne’s summer home on Burntside Lake. Built decades ago right at the water’s edge, the many open windows would lend song to passers-by. While the instrumentalists learned their music in the cozy room near the stone fireplace, the singers would go into the little guest cabin accompanied by Margaret Voss who helped them learn their parts. In addition to being an instrumentalist, Margaret was gifted with perfect pitch and was always ready with the right note when needed. During the luncheon Steve Schon was asked if he’d actually worn tights. He said, “Yes, there are tights in my past.” Although he says he switched to knee-highs in later performances for comfort. Denise Dreschler shared a historic fact about her character Katherine Howard, “Henry had a new hybrid rose commissioned for Katherine, the Rose Without Thorns.”

Following the luncheon, the group posed for a photo. After the photo, with a strike of the tambourine, the group sang their theme song, “Pastime With Good Company” to end the merriment!

“All good things come to an end,” as the saying goes!

The last performance of Henry’s Wives was at the Community Center several years ago.

In reality none of them have lost their heads, but they no longer perform as they are all busy doing other things at court these days.