#537 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Saturday December 17)
Good morning,
POETRY
DEATH BE NOT PROUD
By John Donne
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more, death, thou shalt die.
John Gunther used the title “Death Be Not Proud” for his book about his son’s battle with brain cancer. The story, written by this accomplished journalist, is the heartbreaking story of a remarkable young man who completed high school, only to die a month later. A powerful read. We read it in sixth grade and it had a profound effect on my classmates and me.
MUSIC
Every now and then, I state an opinion and get a little ahead of myself—going into an area in which my knowledge level is wanting. People with greater knowledge point out my error and educate me. Banjo music was one of these areas. Mark DiMaria provides the first lesson:
“If we're talking banjos, we need to mention the greatest living performer on the instrument, Bela Fleck. Pam and I have been big fans of his for some 30+ years. Here he is with the incredible Wooten brothers (bassist Victor and digital percussionist Roy, aka Futureman), as the Flecktones, in concert. If you are not familiar with these guys, be prepared to hear something new. Warning -- this is a full concert performance, and you may find yourself unable to tune out for a while! Mr. Fleck also did a series of concerts with the late Chick Corea, some of which are available on albums, which were memorable.”
Meanwhile, Parke Skelton takes me to school with this defense of the banjo and admonition about my lack of knowledge. This is a great lesson on banjos, banjophobia and my ignorance:
“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 credence with your grudging admission that a banjo can on occasion 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 accordion in peace.”
Here is Ralph Stanley:
Have a great weekend,
Glenn