DISQUS

Dan Leo · 2 years ago

I've thought for some time that one thing that we Americans are bereft of is this connection to an ancient music in our blood. I'm a little jealous when, say, I see a bunch of Greeks at a wedding just dancing joyously to their own music. This attachment to an ancient tradition is something that we just don't have after a few generations in the U.S.

You can't go back though, not really, and so we find our own music, as best we can.

Kathleen Maher · 2 years ago

When we listened to the singers, who live in Canadian coastal villages without restaurants or stop signs--NYC was a trip for them!--much as I yearned to join a 6,000 people community where I belonged as rightly as ocean and trees, I almost unconsciously altered their voices and added a sax to their one wide flat drum.

Lily Kane · 2 years ago

This sounds cool! I have to check out the exhibit.
I think our equivalent is jazz (and not just for us Mahers). Maybe it's not ancient, but it is a true American art form, and I think we both know about the healing power.

Kathleen Maher · 2 years ago

Lily! Thanks for stopping by. And yes, jazz does heal us. Remember when I told you about Sarah Vaughn singing "Honeysuckle Rose" on The Roulette Years CD? During bad times, I listen to it repeatedly. You'll have to tell me the notes, and how they work, because it's only that one version that carries the magic formula. The way Sarah hits BEE on honeybee and rhymes it with jealou-SEE a bar later lifts me up--and hasn't let me down yet. Thanks for commenting, Lil.

Jason Chervokas · 2 years ago

Kathleen, Have you read Daniel Levitin's book This is Your Brain on Music? Levitin's a former record producer turned neuroscience researcher who is at the cutting edge of work on the role of music in human life and it's relationship to brain functioning (among the arguments he makes is that music is an evolutionary adaptation that gives us an advantage as a species). The book will definitely expand the way you think about the role of music in human life and our universal, species-wide need for it.

Kathleen Maher · 2 years ago

Jason, that book suggests exactly what I've been looking for. That clutch in one's heart, I know, can be explained by taking a verse up half a note, but many songs do that. Only when a few musicians do it, in certain songs, does it noticeably and consistently affect me. Thanks for the tip. Would newcritics be interested in the book review?

Jason Chervokas · 2 years ago

Kathleen, I'd love to have anything you want to write on the subject of the brain and music. The Levitan book is a year old now but an endlessly rewarding read. He's got a good web site up to support the book at http://yourbrainonmusic.com/

Oliver Sacks has a new book due next month on the brain and music. You might want to survey the pop sci lit.

Ann Wooten · 2 years ago

The Stick game I remember was as such, The side that was winning sang about a dog withshiney coat, full belly, pranceing along. When behind in the game the dog was skin and bones loosing his coat and limping along. This was at Pow Wows held at Wellpenet, Wa.

Kathleen Maher · 2 years ago

Ann, thanks so much for that description. The games especially intrigued me, but they weren't described so clearly. You've rendered them so much more immediate, even offering a vision of communal wisdom.

andar909 · 1 year ago

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bingo uk · 3 months ago

interesting post, was very curious on the games and thanks for describing it well

Resume Builder · 3 months ago

Thanks for sharing this review with us, glad I had dropped by to this post