Pete Seeger's last concert

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Once Famous
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 05:57 PM

Lucky p, You've never been to Chicago have you?

I'll make you a deal. I'll go listen to Ralph if you listen to some hot stuff by Buck Owens.

Ron, I am so excited by American music, that the English folk stuff just kind of puts me off to sleep.

I really can't relate to it.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 06:11 PM

Martin, I must add a comment to the note about "....the English stuff puts me off....".   
         One can be excited---or enthused----about something and yet respect and understand other material. I can speak there only for myself. My --to use your word--excitement runs along certain lines (Pete S. being one of many artists in that genre---and some newer ones too). That said, I do open my ears to other things and respect them since, I feel, many things are intertwined with each other. So---not excited, perhaps, by English music I can still respect it for any number of reasons. Most having to do with history, interrelativity (is that a word?) and seeing what other might like.


There is a great song in a Gilbert & Sullivan Opera where the character sings a song bemoaning the fact that everyone thinks him such a disagreeable person when he has so many aesthetic interests and tries to instill them upon society----"....Everyone thinks I am such a disagreeable man----And I Can't Think Why..."

Strange thing though---we all are looking back as it relates to today. I am guilty of not liking the newer generation of music----Rap/Hip Hop/R&R ---can never be on Jeopardy since I have never heard of 90% of these groups---and I am amazed at some of the contestants that are both young and older that are versed in them. It only proves that we all live on this planet but in so many different worlds.

Sorry for the philosophy part of the lecture.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 06:49 PM

Martin Gibson said, in part:

Dave, deal with this:

Pete Seeger is way down there in my folk music favorites.

Why? because of the continuous political overtones that overshadows what could be just good music. Yes, I tune that type of folk music out. No, I do not want to go to any concerts of his.

Fine. Quite understandable. And, put that way, in those tones, I have no quarrel with your statement. Nor do I think others here would take umbrage either.

I'll even go a little further, Martin: I generally prefer Pete Seeger's music when he's doing traditional stuff, and feel that sometimes he goes too far ideologically for my taste. A case in point: "Oh, Had I a Golden Thread" (maybe not the exact title) is, to my ears and general sensibilities, a piece of--well, I won't use the C word, and maybe I shouldn't say "junk", but I just don't think it's good songwriting. To paraphrase the Bible, I think Pete Seeger in this instance sold his birthright for a pot of message. But I know some people like this song, and he certainly has the right to write or perform whatever moves him, and it's usually excellent in my book. I will just try to avoid listening to that particular song.

I sure wish I could establish for myself the continuous high standard of musical taste and performance that Pete Seeger has done over the years. And when I come to shuffle off this mortal coil I'd love to think (as I don't by a long shot) that as many people looked up to me as a prime example of what a gracious, ethical human being should be, as what Pete Seeger has earned by his life.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 07:01 PM

Martin - a few weeks ago I had a guest on my program who told me about a wonderful game he and a friend used to play. One person would start singing an English or Irish song, and the other person would sing the American counterpart.    It could go on for hours.

When I really started to study folk music, I was intrigued by the connectivity between American and British Isle folk music.   I don't think country music would exist today if it weren't for the Scotch-Irish connection, and both owe a lot to the English tradition.

Understand your point though, it isn't everyones cup of tea.   Bill H knows my feeling about Gilbert & Sullivan. I would rather have root canal without novacaine then listen to one of their operas. I do respect what they have done, but it isn't my cup of tea. When I was a production assistant at the original CBS Cable, one of my jobs was supervising edit sessions on five Gilbert & Sullivan operas. The productions were horrible! It tainted me.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 07:12 PM

Oh for Pete's sake harmonize, if not keep quiet and enjoy the music!

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 07:53 PM

Thread drift here---Ron---my G & S mention was merely to make the point that you cannot denigrate other types of music (writing, etc;) and then wonder why people think you are disagreeable. One has to respect all things. Even G&S---who's political (well Gilbert anyway) comments are still valid and who's insights into the human condition are wonderful----and done in a most humorous (love the British spelling of that) way.

Now---If you give me your attention I shall tell you what I am---a genuine philanthropist---all other kinds are sham.   


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 08:02 PM

An addendum so as not to be misunderstood.

My point exactly---respect the music but do not like it---as you said, Ron.   But, gee, dental work without novacaine. I don't know if I would do that---even when I respect something.   

Thankfully my dentist does not have English folk music piped into the procedure room---yet, even if it were, I would still opt for the novocaine.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 08:09 PM

I'll make you a deal. I'll go listen to Ralph if you listen to some hot stuff by Buck Owens - Martin Gibson 20 Sep 04 - 05:57 PM

Like 'Dust On My Mother's Bible', for example

Jews dig that kind of thing?

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 08:17 PM

Martin---what is that about? Sounds like the discussion is moving off the higher plane and back to the place where one has to step up to reach the sidewalk.

Bill H

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Once Famous
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 08:40 PM

Let the Guest post two above this 20 Sep 04 08:09 stay as a prime example of the anti-semetism that can be found on Mudcat.

It doesn't really offend me. Being Jewish, you learn to live with and ignore the bigots and goons like this. You lower the music threads into the realm of whale shit, Guest.

You know what Guest, I dig Buck Owens music no matter what. But I wouldn't listen to English folk music. I'm not too fond of British comedy, either. Respecting all of it would be too big of a generalization. I would prefer to be selective in what I respect and not just give everything I don't like a blanket nod of respect.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 08:51 PM

Martin---The GUEST has a real problem. We cannot, however, sink to that level. A discussion of any topic in proper terms is always valid.

Recently I---and I am Jewish--non practicing (for honesty and disclaimer)(by the way how does one practice---like a piano lesson?)(another thread for humor I guess---I could do a riff on that). Back to the first sentence---Recently I---and I am Jewish---had a complaint from a listener to my program (I co-host a show with Ron Olesko) that I play too much Gospel and he does not want proselytization.   He still does not get it. It is Folk---it is historical. We all have to have open minds and hearts.

As to Guest---what can one say to the masked man---perhaps this---"Intelligent people are open to all things---musical and otherwise. Bigots are those with closed minds that will end up in their own obsessions creating their own hell." Hopefully---it comes sooner than later.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: lucky_p
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 08:57 PM

I am a Jewish athiest and a daughter of holocaust survivors, and I am deeply offended. But I do believe I would be equally if not more offended if I were Gentile, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or Pantheist.

If you have no respect for others, you obviously have no respect for yourself.

And love is what keeps it all going.

That's all.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 09:45 PM

It might be that we have different definitions of "respect". To me "respect" means understanding, not "liking".

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 09:51 PM

Is saying the word 'Jew', being anti-semetic now?

Too much paranoia in this world, if you ask me.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Peace
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 10:03 PM

Guest, nobody asked you.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: EBarnacle
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 08:38 AM

Re: Bill's las post.
As a Conservative, tending toward Reform, Jew, I have had more than a few discussions about whether Pete is anti-semitic. As stated above, no he is not.

There has to be an openness to new experiences. Last weekend, I was invited to a comedy club. The people on stage were breaking up most of the audience. A lot of it was potty humor, meant to shock rather than actually amuse. I didn't get it. I was not particularly amused. I was there, however, to be exposed.

The same applies to folk music. The purists insist that there is no folk music less than 100 years old. Does "Fiddler's Green" count? Even though the author is well known, it is often presented as trad.

Others insist that folk music includes current material, often political and that old, beautiful or emotive stuff is passe. There has to a willingness to compromise and listen to both sides of the issue.

How did we devolve into this angry discussion from the announcement of Pete's impending retirement?

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 09:10 AM

Like many another thread, this one suffers from moral entropy. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 09:13 AM

This website has gone to the dogs

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Once Famous
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 02:00 PM

Allow me to lift my leg on you, Guest.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 02:58 PM

Ron, please use anything I say freely and I am honored for the compliment.

I believe that one of the best Pete Seeger albums ever is the Folkways Records "Darling Corey". It shows his artistry as a musician, interpreter and accompanist for a beautiful selection of ballads and folk songs. I wish that someone would do a CD of this. It's a classic.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Alonzo M. Zilch (inactive)
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 03:20 PM

Frank,

"Darling Corey" was combined with "The Goofing Off Suite" and reissued as a Smithsonian Folkways CD in 1993.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Don Firth
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 03:34 PM

I second Frank's comment about the Folkways Darling Corey record. In 1952, the first time I walked into Seattle's "Campus Music and Gallery" (where I had been many times before buying classical, opera, etc.) with the intention of specifically blowing the budget on some folk music records, mainly with the idea of getting records I could learn some songs from, I walked out with a Burl Ives, a Richard Dyer-Bennet, a Susan Reed, a Josh White, and Darling Corey. How's that for a mix?

I now have about three and a half feet of shelf space devoted to vinyl folk records. And a multitude of CDs. All kinds. Lots of Pete.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Suffet
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 09:30 PM

Pete Seeger's 10 inch Darling Corey LP ranks among the absolute best recordings ever of traditional American folk music! I played it until it wore out. Then I bought another one and play it, too, until it wore our. Then I bought the CD. I have been listening to that album for close to half a century now, and I never tire of it.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Suffet
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 07:53 PM

PEOPLE'S MUSIC NETWORK
for Songs of Freedom and Freedom

presents...

THE MANY VOICES CONCERT
Friday • January 28, 2005 • 7:30 to 10:30 PM
Brooklyn High School for the Arts
345 Dean Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues
Brooklyn, New York

Featuring...
Pete Seeger
Brooklyn Women's Chorus
Disabled In Action Singers
Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble
Harmonic Insurgence
Brooklyn High School for the Arts Chorus
PMN Chorus

Cosponsored by...
Brooklyn High School for the Arts
Renaissance Charter School
Brooklyn Women's Chorus
Peoples' Voice Cafe
New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club


Tickets...
$15 for members of PMN or cosponsors if purchased in advance. All others, and at the door, $20.

For ticket information and sales, please contact...
Bev Grant.
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Directions:

• B65 bus to 4th Avenue stops in front of the school eastbound or one block north of the school westbound.

• Subway to the Atlantic Avenue - Pacific Street station. Walk south along 4th Avenue to Dean Street. That will be anywhere from half a block to two blocks depending on what station exit you use. Turn right. School will be on your right.

• Long Island Rail Road to Flatbush Avenue terminal in Brooklyn. Cross Atlantic Avenue, then walk south along 4th Avenue two blocks to Dean Street. Turn right. School will be on your right.

• Driving: I-278 (BQE) to Atlantic Avenue exit. Go east (away from waterfront) along Atlantic Avenue to 3rd Avenue. Turn right. Go two short blocks to Dean Street. Turn left and look for parking. School will be on your left.

PMN website: http://www,peoplesmusic.org/

Be there!

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 06:27 PM

did anyone see this concert finally?

yours,

Peter T.