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'Chagrin Falls' tribute inspiring
(by Barbara Christian - January 21, 2010)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
'Chagrin Falls' tribute inspiring
Elected officials and local politicians are used to citizens attending meetings to yell at them or ask for something unreasonable. In short, there are more brickbats than bouquets in public service, but once in a while, someone does deliver flowers.
An early valentine was presented to the Chagrin Falls mayor and Village Council Jan. 11, but it wasn't a constituent doing the honors. It was Canton resident Paul Antonelli Jr. who bared his soul and his gratitude. Paul is a composer who had no connection to Chagrin Falls until he stumbled upon our town by accident while on an aimless drive to get his head together, so the story goes.
What he felt the moment he set eyes on the village was pure Brigadoon. That is the mythical transient town that rises from the misty moors once every 100 years. Chagrin Falls is missing the mist and moors, but it did have a draw, the composure still has trouble explaining. In short, the village became his muse. He stayed and wrote a clutch of nine songs which he collected under the title "Chagrin Falls."
Paul returned to Canton, but he never forgot his private Brigadoon. On Jan. 11, he returned to make a presentation of his "Chagrin Falls" album to the stewards of the village. He had put the Chagrin Falls-inspired songs onto a compact disc with a picture of the Popcorn Shop on the cover and presented it to the mayor.
Then he made an emotional request of the village leaders that they take care of the place wisely. He asked that they do nothing to alter or harm the heart and soul of Chagrin Falls. It was a moment.
Another one came before the meeting, when the composer introduced himself to Mayor Tom Brick and thanked him for allowing time for his presentation. In one of the sweetest moments of his mayoral career, Tom smiled and said, "That is perfectly all right. You are one of us now."
The "Chagrin Falls" CD given to the mayor and council may be the only one of its kind. We hope not, but we couldn't find another CD anywhere in town at any of the usual places. We learned that it's available online as a download. It's not the same as holding something tangible in your hands.
Maybe we have watched too many movies, but we would like to see "the story of Paul Antonelli Jr." have a tidy conclusion befitting of his love affair with Chagrin Falls. Wouldn't it be nice to see his "Chagrin Falls" CD sold in every store in town -- or, at the very least, the Popcorn Shop and Fireside Book Shop? Wouldn't it be nice if it were available at the local library and in the archives of the historical society?
Wouldn't it be nice if the Chagrin Light Orchestra would perform the music inspired by Chagrin Falls in a concert in Chagrin Falls, with its composer as Chagrin Falls' guest of honor? After all of the caring he put into the musical tribute to our town, wouldn't it be nice to say thank you?
We should mention that Paul Antonelli Jr. is no dabbler or amateur when it comes to writing music. In addition "Chagrin Falls," his fourth album, he has won prizes in jazz and blues competitions here and in Toronto.
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