I blush to admit that the first time I heard it was on Sinead O'Connor's version of "Foggy Dew" on a Chieftain's album several years ago. And I was spellbound.But then, I'm a sucker for haunting, stirring music of many stripes.

I think the reason you have so many people picking up drums and percussion instruments of various kinds is maybe because of the laziness you mention, Jon, but maybe also because they yearn to make music and the drums and tambourines, etc., do seem more accessible. This yearning to make music exists in most of us, though most of our souls remain mute, perhaps because of a lack of confidence, or a feeling that there's no way we could possibly learn to play something with all those strings or keys.

As one who's been struggling for the past year trying to play guitar and still feeling utterly inept and frustrated by the noise I'm making rather than music, I sympathize. I don't think it serves to ascribe the worst possible motive to people, even if they're clumsy in their execution of the thing. We all start from vast degrees of ignorance and learn, it is hoped, a bit as we go along, thanks to the kindesss and example of other, more experienced musicians.

And thanks, Rich, for including me in that number. I don't quite feel that I've earned that designation ("musician") yet, but I'm at least staying in the game ...

ww