Singing the tale of the Tenmile River

AMENIA— Winding through the towns of Amenia and Dover, the Tenmile River was recently commemorated with a song, thanks to the musical efforts of North East resident  and Pawling internist Kenneth Liegner, M.D.

An avid admirer of the river’s unspoiled beauty, Liegner’s connection to the Tenmile River has grown through his attending Tenmile River Roundtable meetings over the past few years. The roundtable is sponsored by the Housatonic Valley Association, which protects the Tenmile River Watershed, among others. Assembling a few times a year, the roundtable focuses on preserving the Tenmile River and promoting the interest of watersheds that drain into the Housatonic River.

After watching the group achieve its goal of designating the river as a New York State Inland Waterway, Liegner decided to try a hand at composing a song to celebrate the Tenmile River designation. He was also inspired by the works of musicians Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm.

While this project marks Liegner’s introduction to songwriting, his musical background includes trumpet and cornet performances as well as his involvement in the Jazz Ensemble at Dutchess Community College, the Berkshire Stompers and the Marching Brass Band. Though initially uncertain about composing for the first time, he recounted his joy in hearing the finished product.

The process entailed about six months worth of historical research, aided by Library Director Miriam Devine of the Amenia Free Library and  Adult Programming Coordinator Donald Partelow of the Pawling Library. While Devine provided Liegner with a volume about the early history of Amenia, Partelow pointed him to Richard Polhemus’s book, “Up on Preston Mountain,” thereby supplying Liegner with context regarding Tenmile River, the adjacent lands and its early settlers. Through the works he uncovered at the library, Liegner gathered some of the imagery for the song’s lyrics.

A couple months later, Liegner set to work composing those lyrics, which entailed many revisions along the way. He also brought out his trumpet to find suitable notes, intervals and a tune for his words.

With the help of Dennis Yerry, the director of the Jazz Ensemble at Dutchess Community College, Liegner put in the song’s chords into place and polished its composition. 

He later commissioned Yerry and vocalist Ann Osmond to record the song.

“I though it was a really fantastic project that Dr. Liegner took on,” Yerry said on his experience,
“and I could feel that he was really connected to the river.”

Overall, the entire project took nearly nine months to complete, resulting in a 5:26-minute long song.

Following the song’s recording, Liegner visited some high schools in the watershed area to see if he could interest music teachers in featuring “Tenmile River Run” in their repertoire. 

He recently made a connection with Choral Director Hannah Geiling of Pawling Central School District, who agreed for her choir to perform his song; she’s now teaching it to the choir at Pawling High School.

“We were thrilled when Dr. Liegner reached out to us and asked if we would perform his piece,” Geiling said. “‘Tenmile River Run’ is a special piece for the Pawling High School Chorus because it focuses on the rich history of their hometown and surrounding area.”

Combining thoughtful storytelling with complex rhythms and beautiful melody, she said the song presented a unique opportunity for students to work directly with a composer.

Liegner was later invited to visit the choir’s first rehearsal of “Tenmile River Run” on Dec. 21; the students were excited to have met him. For his part, Liegner said he considered it an honor to listen to the students perform his song.

To date, Liegner has shared “Tenmile River Run” with the members of the Tenmile River Roundtable and was delighted to have the song played at the Dover Day celebration on Sept. 23. Though his song hasn’t hit the airwaves, he’s hopeful people will hear it and enjoy it.

“Personally, I’d love it if all the kids in the watershed could use it,” Liegner said, “just because it’s their river — and it’s such a beautiful river.”