OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?

Subject: Kytrad Still Here?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 05:53 PM

To any/all friends who saw the Dulcimer article in the August 5, '01 Lexington Herald/Leader, and read the caption underneath a picture, "The hands of the late Jean Ritchie playing the dulcimer," I'm still here! At least I THINK I am. As I don't know what it feels like to be dead, I can't be absolutely sure...

A much-confused JR

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 05:58 PM

DANG! I am SURE glad to hear that, Jean! I didn't see the article, but when I saw the OBIT prefix, I just hollered "NO!"

Here's to you being with us MANY, MANY more years and your dulcimer, too!**BG**

Thanks for letting us know,

kat

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:01 PM

Phew, that's a relief ....

Murray

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:01 PM

Whooosh!! Don't scare us like that Jean! Not funny; glad you posted tho, to stop the rumors.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:13 PM

Maybe they just meant that you're never on time, Jean.

:>}LEJ

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Sourdough
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:19 PM

Like the others, I gasped when I saw the head on this column.

Glad YOU wrote it.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:28 PM

Glad you are still here Jean! I hope the paper prints a correction!!!

This reminds me of another story. A few years ago, a radio station (not mine!) reported that Liam Clancy of the Clancy Brothers had passed away. Someone had read an obituary for someone named Liam Clancy who died, but it wasn't THE Liam Clancy. As soon as the station made the announcement, Liam's phone started ringing off the hook. Reportedly Robbie O'Connell called Liam and asked "so how were things in Hell?".

Moral of the story - Never believe anything you hear or see!

Ron

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:34 PM

Damn. You scared me with the OBIT prefix. I was ready to pull your album from the auction - could double in value if...No good way to get out of this, is there? Glad you're OK.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:36 PM

Dear 'much-confused JR' - the newspaper's far more confused than you!

Jean, may your life be very, very long, and may it always be filled with joy and music.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:40 PM

No digitalis for me tonight, thanks!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: jaze
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:45 PM

So glad YOU caught the error and set everyone straight. May you live as long as your're happy to.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: GUEST,Mad4Mud at work
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 06:49 PM

So you and Mark Twain have something in common. Wasn't he the one who remarked, "The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated."

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Banjer
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 07:28 PM

Thank goodness, I too saw the OBIT header followed by Jean Ritchie and couldn't believe what I was seeing. Now I'm glad I don't have to believe it at all!! Like teh otehrs ahve commented, stick around as long as you want!!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 07:36 PM

Geez am I glad the heart is working fine again!!! All the surgery has now paid off as I too am still here!!!

Good Lord Jean........I mean it was cute and all but that "OBIT" thing was a real ripper! Worse, I was thinking of you today specifically since I hadn't seen you around in awhile............I mean you don't have to report in here but some of us tend to notice when others are gone for awhile..........

Yep.....Beats are at 76 and the BP cuff says 122/76.......I'm fine.....And more to the point, I'm glad you are too. Never was a fan of the Herald-Leader.....the C-J has better coverage.

Say, here's a thought.......Whenever anyone's time comes and they "check-out".....When you know for a fact you're actually gone and all?......THEN come back here and post so we don't have to trust some newspaper story. I am assuming that either port of call in the afterlife is wired on the net...................

Spaw(:<))

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Alice
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 09:35 PM

Did you call the editor and give them a "scare"?

Alice

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 01:13 AM

I would love to be a fly on the wall when this reporter comes a calling. That woman may recreate the rosebush whupping, but she will be on the giving end this time.........LOL. (you will have to read her book to get that reference.....)

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: IanC
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 05:07 AM

Jean

You should perhaps follow Dave Swarbrick's example. While he was in hospital having major surgery about 2 years ago, the Sunday Telegraph, a UK national paper published his obituary. This gave him something of a shock, as you would expect.

His story is that, when he recovered, he went to see a solicitor to ask whether he could sue the Telegraph. The solicitor looked at the obit. and told him he should be paying them.

Ever since, on tour, he carries photocopies of his obit. and sells them for 50p each.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Banjer
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 06:05 AM

Yer right Mick, the rosebush whupping needs a revival!!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: KitKat
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 06:45 AM

Swarbrick is also alleged to have commented that "it's not the first time I've died in Coventry'. What style!

Pat

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 07:01 AM

It's not every day you get to write your own OBIT! Thanks for setting us straight, dear Jean, even if you did set a few hearts a-flutter (but then, you've got all our hearts a-fluttering just by being here!).

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 08:49 AM

A friend got Swarb to autograph a copy of his obituary and now has it framed on the wall of his downstairs loo.

Glad to see you're still here, Jean!

Noreen

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: LR Mole
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 09:42 AM

Delighted. One for our side.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Bert
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 11:38 AM

All together now...

Ain't it GRAND to be Bloomin' well Dead!

Or Maybe there's a song challenge here.

Seriously, I'm glad you're still with us Kymeluv. (You too Spaw yole fart, though I really don't know why)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 11:57 AM

Welcome back, Kytrad. Hope all went well on your tour. While you were away there was a discussion of your Irish recordings on a friend titled Field Trip. (Blue clicky, anybody).
In my glass house, I can't throw stones at the Herald-Leader. About two months ago, I inserted "the late" before the name of a sister who had been principal of the local Catholic high school (another sister who had been principal had passed away; I confused the two). She laughed about it; said friends had called to tell her they were mad about missing her wake. I 'fessed up in a signed column, over which the managing editor wrote the headline: "How I Killed A Nun."

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 01:25 PM

Thanks, everyone, for the good wishes- & I'm glad you're glad I'm not dead. Catspaw and Sinsull, I didn't use the Obit prefix to be cute- there just wasn't anything else appropriate (NOT BS, surely?), despite my ongoing campaign for "News," as the missing prefix...

Mad4Mud- yes it Mark Twain; sorry- I should have made this acknowledgment.

Animaterra, your comment about writing my own obit gives an excuse for MY obit story (very funny, yours, Pinetop): A Courier-Journal reporter called on me, when I was only in my late thirties, and during the interview kept referring to a paper in her folder, finally saying, "I hope you don't mind- I don't want to ask questions we already have answers for. This is your obituary."

WHAT! I was innocent; I knew obits were kept on file at Newspapers, but only for famous people. Why did they have mine? This reaction made quite a hit with her and she went on to do a very nice article. But it got me to thinking, what would folks really say about me after I'm gone? What would be my epitaph? I decided to write my own, but couldn't resist singing it sometimes, at the end of programs, etc. People wanted a different title, said it shouldn't be called a morbid thing like, "Epitaph." So when I did publish it later, in my CELEBRATION book, I retitled it, "Songs of Life" Will print it here if anyone's interested, but won't take up the space otherwise.

Thanks again. Love to all, Jean

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 02:22 PM

Please do print it!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 04:21 PM

I'm all for the prefixes, but this was scary! I thought at first it might be another sick joke by an anonymous Guest, and am glad I decided to make sure. Very relieved to learn you're still with us, Jean, and yes, I'd love to read your 'Song of Life'. The title reminds me of Ewan MacColl's 'Joy of Living', so it will be interesting to compare them.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Jacob B
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 06:26 PM

One thing about obituaries is that they remind you of everything that you had wanted to say to the person, but never got around to.

So I'd like to take this opportunity to make a public apology to Jean.

The explanation of what I'm apologizing for is complicated.

Back in the mid-80s, Rob Joel died unexpectedly. Rob was a lovely singer, and my idea of the perfect song circle leader. He was one of the people who had kept the Folk Song Society of Greater Boston going through the lean years of small membership, and he had taken many of the tasks that kept the Society going upon himself. In the wake of his death, the Society scrambled to find other people to take over his jobs. I volunteered to help out with the publicity.

The problem was, I didn't know many other members of the Society, so I turned to personal friends to help me. I asked a friend who was an artist to make up a flier for an upcoming concert, and she made a lovely flier, but she got it to me late, very late. I rushed it to the printer, then found another friend who was available to pick up the flier when it was done and bring it to the mailing company which mailed FSSGB's fliers to its concert mailing list. That friend picked up the boxes from the printer, delivered them to the mailing company, and went on her way completely unaware that she had just participated in a disaster.

You see, because the flier had gotten to the printer so late, it was there at the same time as the FSSGB newsletter. When my friend the order for FSSGB at the printer, they gave here the newsletter instead of the flier, and she had no way of knowing that they had given her the wrong order.

When the person in charge of the newsletter arrived at the printer to pick it up, they were told that it was gone, and they had no idea where it had gone to. In the meantime, the mailing company started sticking address labels from the concert mailing list on the newsletters (instead of address labels from the smaller membership list), and they ran out of newsletters. They tried to call someone from the Folk Song Society to tell them that they hadn't received enough pieces for the mailing, and when they finally got hold of the Society president he couldn't understand why they didn't have enough fliers.

The net result: The newsletters got out late, the fliers never got out, the concert received no publicity, and Jean Ritchie performed what I'm sure was a wonderfully intimate concert to an audience that would have been disappointingly small at a house concert, let alone a large hall.

I had an obligation that weekend that required me to be out of town, so I wasn't able to apologize in person then, so I'll apologize now. Jean, I'm sorry that the audience was so small. I should have made up a makeshift flier myself when my artist friend was late with hers, but it's easier to see that in retrospect than it was at the time. The blame is mine, though, and I'm sorry.

Jacob

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 12:05 AM

That could be milked for a few good laughs at your next gig: "Ladies and gentlemen, the (fill in venue) is proud to present...the late Jean Ritchie!"

Relieved to see that this thread is not an obit. Whew!

Best,

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 03:46 AM

Yes, Jean, please do share with us...would love to read it.

kat

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 09:04 AM

Jean, I'd love to read it too.

I remember going to a very small one-day festival sometime around 1991. I believe it was at a historical park in Vernon, IN., but I could be wrong. I went because you were playing. I was wandering around looking at things not far from the performance area, when I heard the clear, beautiful voice of a young woman - a voice I recognised as yours. I rushed back to listen, and was completely lost in your singing and your songs.

I think most people don't know how much they matter to others, no matter how well known they are. They may know they sell a bunch of records or see a lot of faces in audiences. What remains unknown is what each of us carries in our hearts because of them, what has been passed on. You know what you give, you just don't know what we take. We take memories of your singing and a yearning to hear more of that sweet, clear voice. We take the songs, and a sense of the care with which they were made and passed on. We take joy.

Thanks.

I thought a long time before posting this - I don't often get too "gushy" or inflict it upon others. It may be gushy, but it's real.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 09:22 AM

It's true Jean, she doesn't. She does have this thing for draonflies however and..............well, that's another story. But speaking of stories.......

Jeri's is yet another in a long line of "Jean Ritchie Stories" which have been told around here in the past few years, all saying much the same thing.........different times, different places, but the same thoughts and feelings emerge in each.

Yeah, I'd like to read "your" obit......But when someone's life has touched so many in such a special way, there are no words to do it justice. Thanks Kytrad for sharing more with us here......and for more to come.

Spaw

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 04:20 PM

Well, it's just a short poem, to which I set a melody- it's really better, sung:

Harp on the willow tree now it is hung,
One man, one faith, one God, to them I clung;
Sweet were the songs of life- now they are sung.
Harp on the willow tree now it is hung.

Dear little son of mine, child on your knee,
Sing him your songs of life- let him fly free!
Dear little son of mine, child on your knee,
Sing them for you, for him, sing them for me.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Banjer
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 06:43 PM

That is a real beautiful thought, one that shows the concern for passing on the folklore and the music we all love. Thanks for sharing that with us Jean!! (And may it be a long time yet before that needs to be added to any marker)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 10:11 PM

There's so much in those two verses - beautiful. Thanks for posting it.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 11:57 PM

Well, that was beautiful. Why am I not surprised?

Thanks Jean.

Spaw

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 08:28 AM

I am stunned at all that those verses convey. The pretty red haired lass has done it in grand fashion. For young folks who read this, please learn the lesson taught here. In two paragraphs, our friend Jean has captured what drove her life, as well as teaching her child one last lesson. And that lesson is to teach his children. This work captures the essence of our wonderful folk tradition. It absolutely defines for us what it is to be a bard.

Well done, Jean. I am proud that we have become friends.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 05:27 PM

A BARD. Well now, I AM set up! Wish you could hear the melody, but I'm no good at getting it online. It's the last song in the, CELEBRATION OF LIFE book, facing the page with the mother&babyphoto, if any of you wish to do the work for me. If it merits going onto DT, the info is: Copyright 1971 Jean Ritchie Geordie Music Publishing Co. Thanks for all your comments, praise and caring. Love to all, Jean

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 05:55 PM

Oh yeah....it "merits" it alright! No problem there........

Jeri?? Can we get this to Mario or Jim Dixon?

Spaw

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 06:26 PM

I'd be VERY happy to write out the tune, but I don't have the book! (sniff, sniff) Would someone scan it and send it to me?

Please PM me for an e-mail address if you can do it.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 04:36 PM

Pinetop Slim sent me the midi.
Here it is in MidiText. You can also click hereto hear it.

MIDI file: SONGSO~1.MID

Timebase: 480

TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Tempo: 096 (625000 microsec/crotchet)
Name: Track 1
Start
0000 1 57 080 0480 0 57 064 0000 1 62 080 0480 0 62 064 0000 1 64 080 0480 0 64 064 0000 1 67 080 0480 0 67 064 0000 1 69 080 0480 0 69 064 0000 1 64 080 0480 0 64 064 0000 1 62 080 0480 0 62 064 0000 1 60 080 0480 0 60 064 0000 1 59 080 0480 0 59 064 0000 1 57 080 1440 0 57 064 0000 1 57 080 0480 0 57 064 0000 1 64 080 0480 0 64 064 0000 1 67 080 0480 0 67 064 0000 1 69 080 0480 0 69 064 0000 1 71 080 0480 0 71 064 0000 1 69 080 0480 0 69 064 0000 1 67 080 0480 0 67 064 0000 1 64 080 0480 0 64 064 0000 1 62 080 0480 0 62 064 0000 1 64 080 1440 0 64 064 0000 1 57 080 0480 0 57 064 0000 1 64 080 0480 0 64 064 0000 1 67 080 0480 0 67 064 0000 1 69 080 0480 0 69 064 0000 1 71 080 0480 0 71 064 0000 1 69 080 0480 0 69 064 0000 1 67 080 0480 0 67 064 0000 1 64 080 0480 0 64 064 0000 1 62 080 0480 0 62 064 0000 1 64 080 1440 0 64 064 0000 1 57 080 0480 0 57 064 0000 1 62 080 0480 0 62 064 0000 1 64 080 0480 0 64 064 0000 1 67 080 0480 0 67 064 0000 1 69 080 0480 0 69 064 0000 1 64 080 0480 0 64 064 0000 1 62 080 0480 0 62 064 0000 1 60 080 0480 0 60 064 0000 1 59 080 0480 0 59 064 0000 1 57 080 1440 0 57 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the latest version of MIDItext and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Track 1
M:3/4
Q:1/4=96
K:C
A,2D2E2|G2A2E2|D2C2B,2|A,6|A,2E2G2|A2B2A2|
G2E2D2|E6|A,2E2G2|A2B2A2|G2E2D2|E6|A,2D2E2|
G2A2E2|D2C2B,2|A,6||

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 05:46 PM

Jeri and Pinetop Slim- Thanks so much! Of course the tune is not as 'level'as it is comes out here. I sing each line with a pause at the end, and consideration for the commas, etc. But it's an accurate rendition of the actual melody.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 06:31 PM

Jean, does this one sound better?

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 06:57 PM

That is so beautiful- thank you dear Jean, and thanks too to Jeri and Pinetop Slim for letting us hear it. Jean, I'm glad I've heard your voice often enough that I can imagine you singing it!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 07:07 PM

Thanks to both of you for the work.....I appreciate it.

As Animaterra said..................

Spaw

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: Robin2
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 08:21 PM

Jean, thanks so much for sharing that beautiful poem, and thanks to those that shared your melody with us as well!
Robin

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 06:40 PM

Thank you, Jeri- I didn't mean that you should try again! It's merely a matter of expression and phrasing, and it's hard to get that with abstract tones. Your pauses at the ends of lines helped- and there's also a lesser pause (for the commas, or to take a breath) in most of the mid-lines. e.g. Dear little son of mine-- Child on your knee-- etc. Just sing it sort of conversational! No, Jeri- DON'T do the tune again- it's fine! Thanks.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Kytrad Still Here?
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 07:33 PM

So Jean.......If we have the "general gist" and are pretty close, but we foul it up a bit in our own interpretations........you'll give us a break....."Folk Process" and all that???? (:<))

It's a beautiful piece.

Spaw