With a pasÂsion for folk muÂsic and finÂgers that danced on an acÂcorÂdiÂon, MauÂry BernÂstein brought small corÂners of the world to life in the coffeehouses and streets of Minneapolis.
He wrote in 1966 that folk muÂsic, in genÂerÂal, "is neiÂther the best nor the worst muÂsic in the world … It is, howÂever, the most varied. That is why I have grown to love it."
That varÂiÂaÂtion was a theme in BernÂstein's life, as he beÂcame an ecÂcenÂtric fixÂture, first in Dinkytown, then the Cedar-Riverside neighÂborÂhood near the University of Minnesota's West Bank camÂpus.
He spent stints teachÂing, hostÂing a National Public Radio program called "Folk Music and BernÂstein," hostÂing "The JewÂish Program" feaÂturÂing news and comÂmenÂtarÂy on variÂous raÂdiÂo staÂtions, and playÂing muÂsic at wedÂdings, fuÂnerÂals, local bars, coffeehouses and othÂer venÂues. BernÂstein orÂganÂized the Snoose Boulevard Festival celeÂbratÂing ScanÂdiÂnaÂvian herÂitÂage in the Cedar-Riverside comÂmuniÂty in the 1970s.
BernÂstein died Nov. 9 afÂter livÂing for years with Parkinson's disÂease. He was 74.
Born into a musiÂcal famÂiÂly that came to Minnesota from New York when BernÂstein was an inÂfant, BernÂstein beÂgan playÂing acÂcorÂdiÂon at age 10 and quickÂly fell in love with folk muÂsic.
"I think someÂthing stirred in his heart when he startÂed playÂing the acÂcorÂdiÂon," said longtime friend Jean BergÂlund.
He taught ethÂnoÂmuÂsiÂcolÂoÂgy and BritÂish and American folk muÂsic at the University of Minnesota in the early 1980s, acÂcordÂing to a SewÂard ProÂfile stoÂry about him in 2005. He played and sang nuÂmerÂous styles of folk muÂsic, inÂcludÂing IÂtalÂian, French, RusÂsian, ScanÂdiÂnaÂvian, BritÂish and AusÂtralÂiÂan, the stoÂry said.
In a 1966 guest colÂumn for the Minneapolis Tribune, he was careÂful to deÂfine folk muÂsic as the muÂsic of grandÂfathers, not the popuÂlar songs of Peter, Paul and Mary or Bob DyÂlan.
Friends say he was a soft-spokÂen, lifeÂlong bachÂelor and learnÂer who was pasÂsionÂate about whatÂever he did.
"The musiÂcians who knew him, I think they were agÂgraÂvatÂed by him beÂcause he was so inÂsistÂent on doing things right," said Anne-Charlotte HarÂvey, a singÂer who reÂcordÂed and perÂformed muÂsic about the ScanÂdiÂnaÂvian imÂmiÂgrant exÂperiÂence with BernÂstein. "He nevÂer said, 'We've had enÂough reÂhearsÂal. I've gotta go home to my famÂiÂly.' He was inÂexÂhaustÂible."
He was also pasÂsionÂate about jusÂtice and soÂcial causÂes, friends said, and found help for othÂer musiÂcians who were down on their luck.
MuÂsiÂcian Papa John KolÂstad reÂcalled bumpÂing into BernÂstein ofÂten on neighÂborÂhood sidewalks. He would greet friends and acÂquaintÂanÂces not by sayÂing helÂlo, but inÂstead by simÂply sharÂing news or facts he had disÂcovÂered, startÂing the conÂverÂsaÂtion with "Did you know …"
BernÂstein was "a walkÂing enÂcyÂcloÂpeÂdiÂa of all kinds of folk muÂsic," KolÂstad said, addÂing that when BernÂstein perÂformed, "he had this vast, vast repÂerÂtoire of songs. You nevÂer knew what you were going to hear from MauÂry."
Friends said BernÂstein could put a band toÂgether to fit any ocÂcaÂsion.
"He was a ferÂvent beÂlievÂer in the powÂer of muÂsic to touch peoÂple, a ferÂvent beÂlievÂer in jusÂtice and fairÂness," HarÂvey said. "He made a lastÂing imÂpresÂsion on all kinds of peoÂple."
BernÂstein is surÂvived by his sisÂter, Melody "MerÂriam" BernÂstein. Services have been held.
Pam Louwagie • 612-673-7102
Also notÂed
A meÂmoÂriÂal meetÂing celeÂbratÂing the life of Ken Tilsen, one of the Twin Cities most promiÂnent civil rights atÂtorÂneys, will be held Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. at Anderson Student Center, 774 Snelling Av. N. at HamÂline University. Tilsen, 85, died Sept. 1.
The program will be co-chaired by Michael DaÂvis, chief U.S. District fedÂerÂal judge in Minnesota, and reÂtired atÂtorÂney BarÂbaÂra Penn. SpeakÂers will inÂclude famÂiÂly memÂbers, atÂtorÂney Bill TilÂton, a memÂber of the Minnesota 8; Prof. MahÂmoud El-Kati of Macalester College; and a repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtive of the American InÂdiÂan Movement.