Good morning, POETRY From Edith Bergay, an excerpt from “In Sweet Company,” by Margaret Wolff Edith notes that it is not a poem not about grief – but what we hope for in our relationships in grief: We sit together and I tell you things, Silent, unborn, naked things
OK, while I admire your verve and willingness to wade into controversial topics, the banjo is, even for you, a bridge too far. Banjophobia is one of the last acceptable bigotries, and it was shocking to see you give it creedence with your grudging admission that a banjo can on occaision produce music-like sounds. And then buttressing that observation with...Steve Martin! He was a perfectly fine opening act at the Bird Cage Theater, but at best a mediocre clawhammer stylist. It should be illegal to write about the banjo without a reverential genuflect in the direction of Earl Scruggs (acknowledged BOAT, who invented the modern banjo style). What about Bela Fleck and Rhiannon Giddens (her opera Omar is quite brilliant by the way, did you see it?) who have explored the banjo's African roots? And if you are looking for the definitive banjo version of "Man of Constant Sorrow" that would be Ralph Stanley (an actual clawhammer master) and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the clear inspiration for the lament of Ulysses. (George Clooney is not singing by the way, that's bluegrass artist Dan Tyminski).
Anyway, I beg of you, leave the poor accordian in peace.
OK, while I admire your verve and willingness to wade into controversial topics, the banjo is, even for you, a bridge too far. Banjophobia is one of the last acceptable bigotries, and it was shocking to see you give it creedence with your grudging admission that a banjo can on occaision produce music-like sounds. And then buttressing that observation with...Steve Martin! He was a perfectly fine opening act at the Bird Cage Theater, but at best a mediocre clawhammer stylist. It should be illegal to write about the banjo without a reverential genuflect in the direction of Earl Scruggs (acknowledged BOAT, who invented the modern banjo style). What about Bela Fleck and Rhiannon Giddens (her opera Omar is quite brilliant by the way, did you see it?) who have explored the banjo's African roots? And if you are looking for the definitive banjo version of "Man of Constant Sorrow" that would be Ralph Stanley (an actual clawhammer master) and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the clear inspiration for the lament of Ulysses. (George Clooney is not singing by the way, that's bluegrass artist Dan Tyminski).
Anyway, I beg of you, leave the poor accordian in peace.