MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: CarolC
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 04:10 PM

Well, Art. I don't know if you were including my quote in your categorization of some posts as being "clever, witty, or glib "quickie" bumper-sticker type of funny quips".

But, while I do find what my accordion mentor said to me highly amusing, it was, nevertheless, the single most important thing that has been said to me about accordions, and about accordion playing. And it was the single most important turning point in my journey as an accordion player, and as a musician. (I use that term loosely since I feel that I still have a long way to go before I can consider myself to be a real musician.)

For me, accordion playing is an expression of the soul. Some accordions sound like parade music. Parade music is nice if you happen to like it. But it's not my particular bag, and the accordion I had at the time my accordion mentor said that to me was of the "parade music" variety. I didn't know that different kinds of accordions had different "musical souls", and I was very frustrated at the time because I wasn't able to express what I wanted to say, musically, with the instrument I had at the time.

But with that one little bit of information about accordions that was given to me in that quote, a whole new world of musical experience was opened up to me. Now I can express what my soul has to say musically, whether it's a sweet sound, a sexy sound, a dark and brooding sound, or whatever. I can do it all now. I love that, and I'm incredibly grateful to my accordion mentor for giving me that gift.

And here's something that makes it even more wonderful. That quote is something that was said to me in a post right here in the Mudcat. So I'm grateful to the Mudcat for being the place where I first encountered my accordion mentor.

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: Art Thieme
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 03:40 PM

Bl.Sa.--Mike,

;-) No way was I talking about you, sir. Pete's banjo gives voice to a grand sentiment that's truly reflective of the thrust of his entire life. There are more posts over at the thread that asks this same question for NON MUSIC examples. That is where I have discerned some few folks have misunderstood my first post more than people have over here in this thread.

Whatever, on my own banjo I had the slogan "THIS MACHINE KILLS TIME". I did that 'cause that was what I mostly did with my banjo.

Art

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 08:45 AM

God, Art, I know there have beem several such turning poinbs in my life, but damned if I can recall the words of the moment!!

I sure know the tune though!!

A

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: BlueSage
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 02:46 AM

Art,

I don't think Pete Seeger has done anything in his life I would classify as "glib " or of a "quickie bumper-sticker" nature. I may have misunderstood what exactly you were looking for, but Pete's words have had a great impact on my life.

When I first deciphered what Pete had written on the face of his banjo, it wasn't a solution to an immediate crisis as much as a validation of my life.

Those few words convey the power of folk music, nonviolence, and activism more clearly to me than almost anything else I have encountered.

Peace my friend.... Mike

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: Art Thieme
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 01:26 AM

...I think maybe I didn't state what I meant to.

I wasn't lookin' for clever, witty, or glib "quickie" bumper-sticker type of funny quips. What I think I'm looking for is those times where someone said just the right thing to you--almost accidentally---because it hit you right then and there in a way that solved your problem--or a quandry---or even set you on the tangent or path that turned out to be your passion for your lifetime---what Joseph Campbell would call your "bliss".

I do hope that's clearer.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: BlueSage
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 02:13 AM

"This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender" - Written on the head of Pete Seeger's banjo!

Mike

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: MAG
Date: 05 Jun 02 - 01:05 PM

Erg; I read the *Other* thread yesterday, first, and see Art did indeed have Marlo Thomas in mind with these words. d-uh.

from Heidi Muller's "I still smell the campfire in my guitar:"

"... I'll catch myself a falling star;
And when I waken in the morning,
the door of my dreams will stand ajar ..."

this reminds me that my dream journal feeds my soul.

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 10:47 PM

The musical words by which I have tried to live are from Mason Williams's song "Godsend":

"The only thing that's worth the time Is helping others find A way to live outside of themselves Free of mind."

Stephen

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 09:06 PM

One that often comes back to me, although not deep trad, is the wonderful refrain:

Dance like there's nobody watching, 

love like you'll never get hurt,

sing like there's nobody listening, 

live like there's heaven on earth.

~~~

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: GUEST,Melani
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 07:12 PM

From Mudcatter Rev, who we haven't heard from in a while: "Well, we've certainly got to hear more from YOU!" They haven't been able to shut me up with a gag ever since.

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: harpgirl
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 06:34 PM

I took dulcimer lessons from Leo Kretzner in the early seventies and he told me never to be apologetic when one is performing. He had a code word for it. If I began any tune with an apology...

"Brocolli!!" he would shout!

I have always remembered that and took it to heart whenever I was up in front of an audience, whether playing or giving a lecture....

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 04:52 PM

I was attending a Free Methodist church (don't ask why!) in Chicago when a woman who was the choir director of another FM church (I believe in Milwaukee) was visiting with her husband. We got to talking after the service about John Wesley's hymns and I said how much I liked "And Can It Be" and sang the first line (the bass part) of the arrangement that was in our hymnal. She looked at her husband and said, "What I could do with that voice!" and begged me to move to Milwaukee so I could sing in her choir.

From then on I didn't listen when people said I didn't have a good voice or couldn't sing. I knew better -- I had an unsolicited endorsement and it's given me the confidence to sing in church choirs, and solo with my guitar, ever since then.

Bless her, bless her!

Alex

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 04:51 PM

"...it is much easier to make love through an accordion (than a button box). Mine's Italian, maybe that's it! Difficult to bonk with a Hohner. You like jigijig?"

--my accordion mentor

I now have an Italian box and a Hohner (and I've played a button box), and he's right. Makes all the difference in the world.

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: jeffp
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 03:58 PM

Debbie Bordner, sister of a friend of mine told me almost 30 years ago, "You sound a lot better when you're not trying to sound like someone else."

I took that to heart and to this day I have been pursuing my own voice.

jeffp

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From:
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 02:18 PM

On the other side--wrong words at the wrong time, MY grammar-school music teacher wouldn't let me sing in class because my pitch was flat. That, I can tell you, stuck with me a damn sight too long.

Subject: RE: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From:
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 02:17 PM

It's an African proverb that a grammar school music teacher (who is also one of my dearest friends) told me when I told her I never sang where anyone could hear me:

"if you can talk, you can sing; if you can walk, you can dance."

Subject: MUSIC THREAD---Right Words-Right time
From: Art Thieme
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 01:35 PM

Marlo Thomas has written a new book---The Right Words--The Right Time. She asked many people to relate to her those WORDS that someone along the way said to them that wound up being their watchwords that inspired them their whole life. I'd like to CONFINE THIS THREAD TO THINGS MUSICAL !! (I will start another thread for inspiring words on all other topics.)

For me, it was WIN STRACKE, a founder of the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago, who on Dec. 31st, 1965 wrote this to me in his book SONGS OF MAN:

(Win was a real mentor of mine who became a good friend. Often he was a rather formal gentleman. I will highlight those words that really got to me---the ones I pretty much lived by.)

Dec. 31, 1965

Dear Art,

The year is almost past---but here at long last is the book in appreciation of your music and generosity at the autographing party. It is a matter of considerable gratification to me to see how you are coming along on the path I've been walking-----that twisting trail which skirts history, education and entertainment----but which always, I hope, is on the firm ground of tradition!! Thanks also for making yourself such a valued person in the Folklore Center.

Affectionately,

Win Stracke

As many of you have realized from my many posts at Mudcat, the oral tradition has always been very important to me over the years.

Art Thieme