Killer punchlines
Look into the eyes of this attractive and rather worried looking young woman. What sad story do you see? What tale of despair and dreams gone bad? What demons? What lost angels? What, you don’t see any of … Continue reading →
National Endowment for the Arts recipients announced
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the 2012 recipients of the United States’ highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. The NEA National Heritage Fellows recognizes folk and traditional artists for their artistic excellence and efforts to … Continue reading →
Frank’s Wild Years
Look at the eyes of this cute and rather worried looking chihuahua. What sad story do you see? What tale of despair and dreams gone bad? What demons? What lost angels? If you don’t already know from the title of … Continue reading →
Two Sisters – Addendum 1
Sheila Kay Adams is a keeper of songs and stories that stretch back hundreds of years, and an American treasure. Most folkies know her name, but if you’re not familiar with her and you’re developing a love for traditional American … Continue reading →
Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam…
Found Drowned – George Frederick Watts, 1867 All right folks. I promised after five separate posts over six months concerning the ballad “Two Sisters” (aka Child 10, aka Roud 8, aka…) that this time I’d have something meaningful to say … Continue reading →
MARIA MULDAUR: Steady Love
MARIA MULDAUR Steady Love Stony Plain 1346 www.stonyplainrecords.com With the exception of a stunning makeover of blues poet Percy Mayfield’s signature song “Please Send Me Someone To Love,” all thirteen tracks on Muldaur’s latest were … Continue reading →
Two Sisters Redux – Part 2
detail from Twa Sisters – quilt by Dan Willig So, as I introduced in my first post this week, I’m trying to add some depth and variety to my first series of entries from six months ago on the ballad known as Child … Continue reading →
CECILIA: In Bad
CECILIA In Bad Appel 1331 www.tsmiske.be/stek8/appel/appelstart.aspx The debut from Belgian trio Cecilia positively hums with energy and invention. Originally a duo of flute/cornet and hurdy-gurdy/cittern, they were joined by diatonic accordion player Greet Wuyts, a … Continue reading →
Two Sisters Redux – Part 1
detail from Twa Sisters – quilt by Dan Willig Six months ago, my first post for this blog dealt with the ancient murder ballad “Two Sisters“, also known as “Wind and Rain” as well as several other names. I’m happy with the … Continue reading →
So died these men as became Athenians
James Chaney’s mother, Fannie Lee Chaney, and his brother, Ben Now, having moved through a discussion of a number of musical responses to the Freedom Summer murders, I’d like to go back to “ThoseThree Are On My Mind,” and think … Continue reading →