Duets: Minnesotans Mary Ann and Maureen revel in their musical play dates

Dick Papke is a most happy fella. Every week, he enjoys a live piano concert in the comfort of his den in Blaine. Amid a moving Mozart, a peppy "Tea for Two," Papke relaxes as the melodies waft his way courtesy of his wife, Mary Ann Papke, and her musical-duo partner, Maureen Armstrong. First, though, the warm-up:

"Fifteen minutes of gabbing," says Dick, a trumpet player. His quip sends Mary Ann and Maureen into howls of laughter, something they do a lot.

Nine years ago, Maureen was directing the Papkes' church choir when she and Mary Ann discovered their shared passion for piano. Maureen, 60, is an accompanist for many high school choirs and an organist at a variety of churches. Mary Ann, 78, is a retired piano soloist and music teacher. Both studied piano with Bernard Weiser at the University of Minnesota, 18 years apart.

"Let's play some piano duets together," Maureen suggested, "and see how it goes."

Every week, Maureen drives more than 100 miles round-trip from Burnsville to join her bench partner. They tackle classics (Beethoven wrote many duets), "Victor Borge-style craziness" and everything in between. They hunt for music at estate sales and music store bins.

"We had a Mendelssohn … 22 pages and we just plowed through it!" Mary Ann says gleefully. "It's a longie. And it's written for one piano. Maureen almost had to get out of my way. Sometimes when I'm done, I have a stiff shoulder."

Good practices, actually all practices, are rewarded with something delicious from Mary Ann's kitchen. "Dick says we'll need to get a bigger bench," Mary Ann says. More delighted laughter.

Mary Ann started piano at age 4. She put herself through college with $60 a month she earned by playing at church services. She swears she has never practiced. "I don't understand how I never had to," she says. "I would read a page and I knew it." Maureen, the daughter of a voice-teacher mother, nods. "Mary Ann can play me under the table."

One time, Maureen brought over a candelabra, "as kind of a joke." "And a tip jar once," Mary Ann adds. They have been paid to perform, but "that's not the point," Mary Ann says. "We have so much fun. We feel the same emotions. That's what it's all about."