Wasn't this about music?

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: bbelle
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:10 PM

I think starting one more thread about this subject is ludicrous but I clicked on it because I was curious as to who started it. I have absolutely no interest in 99% of the bs threads and don't click on them, however, I do find religion and politically-based threads most interesting, especially because many folk tunes are/were borne of one or the other ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: JedMarum
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:11 PM

right on selby; well said!

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:13 PM

Most of my friends in the Real World are Liberal, anti-gun, agnostic. Some like Traditional music.

Many of my friends on the Mudcat are Conservative, pro-gun,religious. All like Traditional music

I am one of those who believes that the love of music creates a common ground from which many other things can grow- tolerance, humor, friendship and understanding. And the ground here is way to fertile to grow only discussions on traditional music.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:16 PM

I think we have to talk about politics and religion here, because they need to be grounded or woven into music and community so as to make them less, rather than more, inhumane, professionalized, abstract. I can see no way to separate them, really, though people keep trying for what seem to me to be weird reasons -- is it because music is seen as something that is a rest from all that, a break of some kind from real life, a mathematical puzzle, something too nice to get messed up with, or what? Like, stay away from my child bride, or something? If politics is about learning to live together, and religion is about learning to live truthfully, then we are saturated in them here, as is music.
I do think that some attempt should be made in those kind of threads to bring music into the discussion sometime. It would certainly interest me, and, to make my earlier point even stronger, would I believe mightily improve the politics and religion discussions -- left on their own, they get pretty sickening fast, like a service with nothing but sermons, without a song or a tune. I notice that whenever a political thread or a religious thread shifts into specific music or songs or whatever, everyone cheers up, starts contributing, goes and does some research. The "There Were Roses" thread this summer was a great example of this. We were drearily rehearsing Irish tit-for-tats, and then everyone suddenly perked right up. Like somebody else there, I would like to see the Bobby Sands thread tilt off into talking about the songs, or disappear, but I have sworn off contributing to that thread.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: MMario
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:17 PM

of course the ground is fertile....between the faeries, the cats, the 'possums and flamingos, not to mention thread content, there's an awful lot of manure being spread.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:17 PM

I suppose that some of the religion in the threads does cause me problems. I am a Christian and my beliefs are very different to say Kat's. The problem I have is that some people here express their beliefs in the threads and I find myself wondering whether to join in "No the Christian view point is..." and risk starting a heated debate here (which I believe is the wrong place) or to keep quiet to keep the peace.

Jon

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:19 PM

Since alot of people seem to be checking into this thread, I am going to remind you that there are plenty more tunes that can be created and sent to Alan, alison, or Joe, to add to the Mudcat midi database. Here is a link to the thread for two that alison added just yesterday. Maybe it will inspire you to send in your own composition or one that matches lyrics in the DT. click here

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:23 PM

As a complete newcomer to mudcat, I love everything about it. It reminds me very much of a great session in an Irish pub. We play a bunch of tunes, drink a few pints, have a great yap for a while (on every topic under the sun), those who don't want to converse can wander up to the bar or out to the jacks, then back to the music again. A few more tunes, another jar, another chat, and so it goes. If you don't like one conversation, there's plenty more going on at other tables. Sorry, I rambled on there.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Blackcat2
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:25 PM

Hi all

Jon - my guess is that you have a right to express your opinion - especially if someone else is expressing theirs. You will probably find other Christians on the site. I don't really offer my opinion religiously on the Mudcat - rarely do I think that it's appropriate and to be honest, I rarely see others doing that as well. maybe I'm not noticing it. One thing is for sure (and this is true at my Unitarian Universalist Church) Christian Bashing is tacetly accepted where attacks on other religions often aren't. That is a shame, because while I have problems with the actions of some Christians, the vast majority don't bother me in the least. It does get tough occasionally being part of a minority religion (2 actually, but who's counting) in a country that seems fixated on one religion's holidays.

Well, so much for not sharing my relious stuff . . .

pax yall

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:26 PM

Hi Red Harbour. The Ballad of the Wandering Aengus (from the Yeats poem) is a wonderful song. Van Ronk's version is quirky and very touching, but I'm going to play Devil's advocate here, and ask you to start a thread on it. If you get some responses great. If you still need the chords, I'll give you the ones I use.
Hate to disagree with my friend Steve about Mudcat direction (actually he's pretty big so I wouldn't want to disagree too much on ANYTHING with him) but I doubt that the large amount of religious (direct and indirect) postings will diminish, so I sure have no problem hearing about political situations and folks' opinions on them. I think the Bobby Sands one is quite interesting..even though I made a mistake by posting to it. In general I'm all for diffrent points of view, expressed articulately even if it gets heated. Believe me, some James Taylor and Bob Dylan threads went the same way. Even my thread on Black music raised lots of ire. I certainly don't mind taking the odd shot...and Bobby Sands DID write songs.

Hope the New Year brings good stuff to us all.

Rick

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Blackcat2
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:29 PM

not JAMES TAYLOR!!!

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:42 PM

Relax Blackcat....We have the free stays at the new wing of the "Neil Young Center for the Terminally Screwed" especially for the "Taylor Problem." Just register as a 'Catter for a few days at the "James Taylor Rehab Unit for the Catatonically Bland." You'll be fixed up good as new. Failing to get immediate treatment may leave you CATATONICALLY BLAND so if you need the Insanevac chopper for transport, its available.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Chet W.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 02:48 PM

We have beaten this subject a lot, of course, but new people come every day and want to know about this and that and give their opinions, all good things. I was thinking maybe we should make a statement up front that we talk, and not just about music directly, but whatever is on our minds and whatever is important to us, just as face to face musicians or accountants or ballet dancers do everywhere. But it doesn't take long to find this out on one's own, and as was said so eloquently above, just click to another thread if you're offended, or make a rebuttal. This is a barely limited space for discussion/information exchange. I for one cherish it.

Controversially, I do understand (but not necessarily support) intolerance based on personal experience. Half of my family being Czech, we have little good to say about Russia. The older members of the family that lived through World War II and actually saw the atrocities have similar views about Germany. We know better than to generalize but the actual sight and experience of horrible things happening on behalf of a cause or nation are difficult to get over. I guess the best commentary about forgiveness was made by Jesus himself. Within the limits of human weakness we try to forgive, but many of us will always react in ways that do not fit our usual natures. Onward to the new millennium, we can only hope that we can leave some things behind in the old one.

Chet

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:03 PM

People who forgive after horrible personal experiences that should keep them in the grip of well-earned hatred are surely the best evidence we have on earth for miracles. What behaviourist could understand it? thanks Chet.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: bbelle
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:05 PM

Chet ... since you are checking into this thread rather frequently ..... wondered if you might be able to get down to Live Oak, FL while kendall in here? It's not too far a schlep from South Carolina ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:19 PM

Did anyone consider Banjo Bonnie might be Rick Fielding's esoteric, whimsical, astro-illogical, side?

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Chet W.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:23 PM

Thanks. It actually is kind of far to Live Oak, and I have school starting back Monday, myself being in the dwindling ranks of teachers. I hope to do some travelling in the summer, my first ever summer off! My previous school was year-round. I'll look you up if I get down that way.

I am not Strom Thurmond. Chet

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:27 PM

Bonnie, you ain't no astral projection -- you read it here first. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:33 PM

Can you give us any info about her "astral projections" Peter?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Bert
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:34 PM

Just you wotchit 'Spaw yole fart or I'll be sending Cleigh his plane fare to

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:51 PM

There are sometinmg like 65 threads up on the screen at any time.

I've just checked, and maybe 12 of these are not directly related to music and musicians. And I'm not sure about some of them. I mean, that 12 included this one, and In rteckon it's a perfect specimen of a periodic ritual discussion which is now part of our tradition.

And in fact my observation is that if any thread lasts for any length of time it's going to get round to music and suchlike.

When I go into a pub I normally like to drink beer. Does that mean I should stomp up and down complaining because they allow people to buyt a cup of coffee?

One of the great things about this place is that it is perfectly soundproofed. If some bunch of people are off in a corner talking about something you don't want to talk about, their voices don't intrude.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Mbo
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 03:54 PM

Speaking of alter-egos--I confess that I was Santa on the "Dear Sandy Claws" thread. Could you tell?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Jeri
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 04:51 PM

On religion, I think anyone should feel free to say what they believe. There has been a bit of Christian bashing, usually associated with specific churches or the religion as a whole. It saves a bit of time when you don't have to ask what an individual person believes and you can just dismiss their whole outlook based on the stereotype/public image/history of the entire religion. Not nice.

When I was at the Fieldings', I saw a TV show with two Christian leaders from the US and Bishop Desmond Tutu. The two Americans had extolled the contributions of Christianity during the millennium - how much good and light it had brought the world. Bishop Tutu took his turn, and said something to the effect of yes, Christianity had been responsible for some great things, but it was important to remember it has also been responsible for some great atrocities. I think what he was saying was we should be careful not to use religion as a tool or weapon. Song reference here.

I believe it's futile to try to change anyone's mind about religion or politics. The most we can hope for is to tell someone something they don't already know, or help them understand our beliefs.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 04:51 PM

Yeah Rick, I'm a really intimidating guy. I'm the guy who if I find a spider in my house will set it free outside, I'm nasty.

I guess one of the reasons I feel the way that I do harkens back to something Rick said on another thread, he found out that one of his all time heroes was a card carrying member of the KKK. I'm sure that Rick would never change that persons mind about this, and I'm sure that Rick can't listen to this person the same way (if at all) anymore. We all have positions on issues that have taken a lifetime to formulate, and I can only see threads as controversial as Bobby Sands, Ulster Protestant songs, Rebel songs as being as out of place here as a KKK thread, (I know there was one, but it was anti-KKK, and had to do with music so I wasn't too upset by it's presence here).

I participated in the Guns thread, ended up forming opinions about contributors that made me uncomfortable, and ended up thinking 'what the hell was that thread doing on a blues and folk forum anyway?'

Having a little fun is okay with me, as a Canadian I find 'Spaws Neil Young centre a bit of a dig, but I welcome his humour and musical knowledge, I sure don't want to ignore his posts because of a disagreement over political views.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:22 PM

Ya know Steve, the Canadian thing NEVER occured to me at all. He's just such a psychotic that he was an easy pick. Please don't pass this around, but I can't help but enjoy watching him perform because he is completely crazed and there is this strange fascination with watching him...not really listening, just watching. Its like a film clip I have on tape of Hunter Thompson interviewing Keith Richards...It doesn't matter what they're saying (and they have no idea), its just so completely bizarre!!!!

On the plus side, we did locate the Center in Montana!!! (Sorry Alice)....Actually, that was the choice of the CIA who did the original funding to train crazed tiple bands to replace assasination squads for the overthrow of world governments.

Spaw

Spaw

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Paul G.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:27 PM

Gamble Rodgers would have said "Let them that don't want none have memories of not gettin' any".

pg

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Chet W.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:51 PM

I got to say it; I find it weird when anyone tries to justify intolerance and/or hatred based on religion and Christianity in particular. Anyone with any familiarity with the teachings of Christ should see my point. To throw more butane on the fire, I also find it weird when Christianity is blended with what is now said to be conservative politics here in the US, a strain that has no historical ties to American conservatism before Ronald Reagan or maybe Nixon. Jesus of all people in history was the most radical progressive there ever was. Can you see him supporting a candidate that says the holocaust was not so bad or makes a state visit to honor the graves of Nazi monsters? Sorry, but give me a break!

Chet

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Chet W.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 07:08 PM

I guess that last post was just what we wanted to avoid wasn't it? Sorry, but the psychedelic associations I described above are on my mind a lot, especially recently. One of the phenomena of modern times seems to be that ideas and words change their meanings to suit the moment, no matter how absurd the shift, and we as a culture just accept it or ignore it. I wasn't directing at anybody in particular. I've got no hate in my heart, but outrage, which is not the same thing, stays when we know it has to.

Is any of this about music? Well a lot of my songs are, for what it's worth.

Have a fine New Year's Eve and Day.

Myrtle (the artist formerly known as Chet)

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: kendall
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 07:21 PM

hey Chet w. I'm going to be traveling through SC on, probably the 6th of Jan. If you are not too far off the interstate, I'd like to stop for coffe..might even have Mary Mac 90 along..

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 07:47 PM

Psychedelic???

Is this an example of what Chet talks about a couple of sentences on: "One of the phenomena of modern times seems to be that ideas and words change their meanings to suit the moment, no matter how absurd the shift, and we as a culture just accept it or ignore it."

But aside from the "psychedelic" tag, I agree with Chet. Words get stolen and misapplied to describe things that try to destroy every good thing they stand for. "National Socialism." "White Aryan Christian." And you could find equivalent groups claiming to be Muslim, Hindu, Jewish... It's a pity the term Blasphemy has been hijacked a few times too often, because that is what is involved here.

"This machine destroys Fascists" was what Woody Guthrie had on his guitar. I wish it was as straightforwared as that. Rick's musical hero who turned out to be KKK demonstrates that it isn't. The Devil really does have good tunes sometimes.

"It is a test of a good religion whether you can make a joke about it," wrote one of my favourite people, Chesterton. He meant, make a joke about it from the inside. I think that's a pretty good test, and one that the nastier examples that outrage Chet would never pass.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 08:11 PM

WARNING: Kat is now going to post something which is music-related. Hold onto your hats.

Thanks to Kris Krsitofferson

Jesus was a Capricorn
He ate organic food
He believed in love and peace
And never wore no shoes

Verse 2:

Long hair, beard and sandles
And a funky bunch of friends
Reckon we'd just nail him up
If he came down again

Chorus:

'Cause everybody's gotta have somebody to look down on Who they can feel better than at any time they please
Someone doin' somethin' dirty decent folks can frown on
If you can't find nobody else, then help yourself to me

Verse 3:

Eggheads cussing rednecks cussing
Hippies for their hair
Others laugh at straights who laugh at
Freaks who laugh at squares

Verse 4:

Some folks hate the Whites
Who hate the Blacks who hate the Klan
Most of us hate anything that
We don't understand

Chorus

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Chet W.
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 08:36 PM

Kendall, Anytime if we can. The 6th is a schoolday so I won't be home til about 4:00. If you're coming on I-95 I'm about 1.5 hours from there. If you're on I-77 you come right by me (5 miles). Just leave me a message and I'll send directions, phone #, etc.

McG, I use the word psychedelic to describe things that don't make sense under any way of thinking that I know, whether western logic, language analysis, or Zen no-mind, but that people behave as if they're taking it seriously anyway. Besides the examples you and I mentioned, there are the ones I deal with everyday as a teacher, like why shouldn't we put a 19-year-old tenth grader who can't write his name in an honors science class? It fits his schedule! I guess some other words to use instead might be dissociative, delusional (sp), psychotic, surreal, phantasmagorical, etc etc. I think we agreed on the gist of the point, but I didn't understand your last sentence.

Thanks for the song Kat. One of my most vivid memories from my adolescence in our Baptist church was when we had a preacher that hated hippies, and he rarely gave a sermon without saying something about them, often stories from the grocery store checkout tabloids. On this particular night, which was at a revival service, he was going on about hippies with their (imagine disgusted scowl) long hair and their sandals and their strange clothes, while on the wall behind him was a large picture of Jesus in a frame with long hair, sandals, and certainly not a suit and tie. I looked at the preacher, I looked at the picture, back and forth, until I passed some kind of point that may have had a lot to do with my life since then. I wonder if anyone thinks Jesus was the only man in Palestine in those days dressed and barbered like Jerry Falwell. Yes, I would describe that sort of thinking as psychedelic.

Trying to make sense of it all, Chet Myrtle (not Strom)

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: InOBU
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 04:16 PM

Comparing the KKK to the IRA? Or do I miss a point?
1. Music of both
KKK Best song...
I am a good ol rebel - good tune - words suck.
IRA Best song
How can you pick one of the thousands?
Unfinished Revolution? Great tune, good words, references struggles against oppression around the world.
2. Inspiration to organise.
KKK Race hatred and white suppremisy
IRA The setting aside of a government elected by the people in 1911, by force of arms, and subsiqently resistance to a system which denighed equal jobs housing and voting rights to a people for reason of their national and religious heritage.
3. Membership
KKKOpen membership, whites only
IRA, any dedicated person reguardless of race religion or sex, qualification, sober, and sane, and reliable.
4. Tactics
KKK indecriminate lynching and racial itimidation
IRA following the articals of war to oppose the army of one of the most powerful nations on the planet.
Similarities
They both are made up of human beings, (though it pains me to say that about the KKK).
Just a short note on a previous post above, I have a cracked rib from coughing too much, so I cant sit and type, I have to lie down and grown awhile, about the rib, not the fractured rhetoric, no offence, I get a little impatent when in agony...
Best wishes for peace and understanding in the new year,
When in New York come hear Sorcha Dorcha (my band) if you like Uileann pipes - Bagatelle WENDSAY NIGHTS 8 - 10 (12 Saint Marks Place) (keeping this musical!)
Again best wishes
Ouch
Larry

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Frankee
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 04:32 PM

Dear Lenny (if you're still out there),

Early on in this thread I made the knee-jerk assumption that you were Gargoyle, the resident curmudgeon. If my flippant remark offended you, you have my sincerest apologies (and apologies to you too GG). Hope you find what you're looking for on this site.

Regards, Frankie

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 04:44 PM

Frankee, IMHO, SPAW is a curmudgeon, as is Kendall, McGrath and few others at times, including Art Thieme. I would not classify them with the one who needs to blessed and released on his way.

Chat/Myrtie what an epiphany! Great moment for you.

InOBU, do you have any tapes of cd's? I love Uileann pipes

kat

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Frankie
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 05:08 PM

Dear Kat,

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Frankee
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 05:30 PM

Whoops

Dear Kat,

Thanks for the advice but I guess interact with GG in a a different way than you. While I find his very specific personal attacks repugnant, I'm amused by some of his other rantings and he's been very helpful to me from a musical standpoint in a few instances. He seems to give this place a bit of symmetry. Just my opinion. I really don't want to turn this into one of those kind of threads so I'll close on that subject. I would like you to know that I've derived a lot of spiritual inspiration from many of your postings and really appreciate the way you tend this place with such care.

Best wishes, Frankie

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 05:50 PM

Best wishes to you too Frank. Thanks for the complement.

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 06:04 PM

Now listen hear, young'un! You stop that! Frankie, don't listen to her! Actually, do listen because I DO want to say thank you for the compliment, and yes, Lil Neo/BB, it goes for you as well, 'cause you've brought your own Light to the 'Cat and inspired a bunch of us.

As for the other, to each his own, I guess, Frankie. Personally, I don't think there should be a place here for someone who postes such vitriol, BUT I don't want to see another of those endless threads, either, so will shut my trap.

Thank you very much,

katlaughingatBBandhercleverness

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 06:30 PM

Just looked up curmudgeon in a big dictionary I bought in a boot fair*.

Here's what it said:

Etymology unknown. In the first edition of his Dictionary Johnson doubtfully suggests as the origin of the word, coeur mechant, giving as the source of the suggestion "an unknown correspondent"; Ash, the compiler of an English Dictionary a little later, misunderstood this and boldly explained the word as derived from:
Fr.coeur "unknown", and mechant "a correspondent"

So for a brief shining moment at least curmudgeon was defined as meaning "an unknown correspondent". Not such a bad term for our anonymous friend.

But it's a great sounding word, and I'm honoured to be accorded it. Especially in such compamy.

Oh yes, the dictionary meaning:

"A churlish, cross-grained, surly, ill-tempered cantankerous fellow."

Yup, I can live with that. In fact I can revel in it.

*(The Universal English Dictionary, edited by Henry Cecil Wyld B.Lit.,M.A., Hon. Ph.D. Upsala; Honorary Member of the Linguistic Society and of the Modern Lanmguage Assiociation of America; Late Merton Professor of English Language and Literature in the University of Oxford. With an Appendix by Eric Partridge, Author of "Slang and Unconventional English"; "Usage and Abusage: A Guide to Good English." Published by The Waverley Book Company in London.)

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Mbo
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 06:53 PM

OOOHHH Merton. Tolkien was Professor of Anglo-Saxon Literature there!

--Mbo (The Thread Creep)

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 07:40 PM

McGrath! LOL! Please see today's Thought for the Day. In it, I claim rights to be the Curmudgeon of the Day and I love the definition you posted.

BTW, when I think of that word, I usually think of Cleveland Armory and his book about the Curmedgeon and the Cat, himself being the "ole grouch" in question, but a loveable grouch, not unlike yourself and the others I named.**BG**

katlaughingforsure!

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: InOBU
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 07:56 PM

Dear KaT! Again, returning to the musical. I will have tapes soon, and will let folks know. I did play on a CD, which, in spite fear of offending the VERY nice people who wrote the tune I play on, I should explain, the tune is not representive of my playing or Irish music. I know Scott MX Turner, would no tbe offended if I say his music is not traditional... so, if one hears me on the CD Sniper in an abandoned house (no kidding) with the band Devels Advocates, playing on the song for Pat Finucane, it is not really my style ...
However! at long last, I have put together a band that reflects my view of living Irish traditional music, Sorcha Dorcha, and we do songs from Ireland Enlgand, Scotland, and Bretony - as well as a few of my own, and if I can bring our very agreeable flute player around to love it as much as I, some Romani (Gypsy) tunes. For information about performances - see New York Mudcat Seisun\Jam post, and as soon as we find ourselves at a point when we can put a few tunes on tape for friends, before anything too formal, we will and I will let folks know how to get them.
Contrary to what might be some peoples image of my politics, (he said smiling) we dont do Irish republican songs, because they are often over done, and people dont often pay attention to the point and histories in them - but we do songs about forced assimilation of American natives, and songs about the murder and oppression of Gypsies, as well as some old greats like Tom of Bedlam. We do not, nor have plans to do Good old Rebel, even though also written by humans, as are songs about social change for justice. (sorry could not help it Kat - as I said, the cracked rib is making me a little less than normally agreeable - he also said with a smile and a groan!)
Hope to see all one day, and hear most!
Larry

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: kendall
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 07:57 PM

What did I say to be branded a curmudgeon?

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 08:01 PM

Aw shaddup and enjoy the fame ya old poop....Just try not to get stabbed.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Art Thieeme
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 08:37 PM

Bert,

Howdy. I can see the good in your suggestion--and thank you!

Starting musical threads isn't where I'm at right now. I do enjoy using what little knowledge I might've picked up over the years to add to some of the threads that others have started. It's a kick to realize I've got those bits and pieces that might be unknown to a few. The dim and fading glow cast by the coals of my memory are often aroused to flaming heat by some of the queries I can sometimes find here. The talk forum seems so limited; but adding my dos centavos to these threads is a miraculous connecting to the world on that latger level---and with one click.

I still look through the musical thread titles that insinuate a need for something I maybe can offer. But when Frank Hamilton showed up with his grand willingness to let us in on "Weaver times" and people from his first hand knowledge----well, I jumped right into that B.S. because it was not only musical, but it's factual offerings were enlightening and transporting.

To those of you who never knew what this place was before---PLEASE look back a year or two.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Chet W.
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 12:44 AM

Going through a lot of changes as the 1900's slip away. I've gotten to where I may be offended by music. Not sure yet. Will report.

Chet

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Penny S.
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 10:51 AM

I wouldn't have compared, or contrasted, the IRA with the KKK, but the tactics section there seemed a little limited. If kneecapping members of your own community (and this can now mean amputation, because the action has been made more severe to counter the surgeons' developing skills), and planting bombs where they can blow up children are included in normal articles of war, then they shouldn't be.

I do try to keep out of this argument. I started on the side of civil rights in Ireland. I don't like what successive British governments have done. I detest the way the Unionists governed the North. I understand what drove resistance. But I don't understand, or condone its ultimate expression in the deaths of countless and in many cases unreported, innocents.

Penny

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: Penny S.
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 11:36 AM

And as the sun goes down, I don't want it setting on that mood.

May what belongs in the 1900s stay in the 1900s, and what deserves to go on to the future do so, and there be peace and songs, and no more sniping at each other and harping on the darknesses of the past.

May what has been settled in Ireland hold, and the future there work, and show others what can be done where there has been hate.

Penny

Subject: RE: Wasn't this about music?
From: kendall
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 12:29 PM

dont worry spaw, believe me, I'm more than able to take care of myself.