Pianist Jill Kremer’s Musical Composition of the Seven Founders

In a telephone interview, Jill Kremer, a member of P.E.O. Chapter

BL, Seattle, Washington, shared the following. The inspiration for what

was to eventually be named, “Sister Eternal”, was composed in honor of

her mother-in-law, Elizabeth Raymond, a P.E.O. that encouraged Jill to

become a member. Shortly after Jill was initiated Elizabeth became very ill

and passed away. Elizabeth knew that Jill was writing her a musical composition

before she died. It is very reflective, often used for a memorial.

It was after this event that Jill decided to write a musical composition

for each of the seven sisters and a piece called, Daisies, for her chapter

in honor of their support. It took one year for Jill to complete the music for

the seven sisters. After studying each of the personalities of the seven sisters

she began her work, interpreting each sister’s personality and putting it to

music. The CD begins with:

:

Alice Bird Babb who was a reader of classics, an intellectual and very

like Mozart, according to her research.  The listener is encouraged to listen for

Alice’s’ grand entrance at the end.

:

Hattie Briggs Bousquet, is identified as comforting, a leader, the first

to propose sisterhood, elegant, simplistic. Her music is slow, haunting

and romantic, according to Jill.

:

Ella Stewart, is a lively person and

very social, also Irish like Jill.

:

Suela Pearson Penfield, is a musician and flapper of the group, so her

music revolves around the Roaring 20’s.

:

Alice Virginia Coffin’s piece is queenly, warm hearted, fun and waltzlike.

Jill had a difficult time ending this one.

:

Franc Roads and it is like her, strong, vigorous, a dramatic march

approach.

:

Mary Allen Stafford, is a motherly person, graceful and cheerful. Her music

is described as flowing, easy listening and soft.

:

Daisies, is whimsical, contemporary and fast.

Jill’s music has been used in three state conferences, Washington, Illinois

and Ohio. We are the first chapter in North Carolina to order her music. Jill

is a performing pianist that has toured throughout the United States. I encouraged

her to consider a tour in North Carolina so we could enjoy her talent.

Norma Eckard, Chair

 The Piano Solos: A Tribute to P.E.O. Founders

Composed and Performed by

Jill Kremer, Chapter BJ-WA