It is a good day to remember Chilean folksinger and poet Victor Jara.
Jara was murdered by the Pinochet regime 35 years ago. One of his murderers has finally been convicted.
Jara’s memory and music live on.
I can’t write more movingly than has already been done, so go read, see, and listen.
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Yesterday, after buying a sunflower at the downtown farmers’ market, I parked my bike to hang out and listen to the Zimbabwean marimba band. (Add “bouncing dorkily to traditional African rhythms” to the list of stuff white people like!) Normally I’d pass them by, finding the repetitive tunes extremely boring. Yesterday was different. I was tired and stressed. The music was medicine. The ringing harmonies resonated in my chest and got me breathing more deeply and smiling.
Even though I’m obsessed with my collection of recorded music and hardly ever go to concerts, I try to stay open to street musicians. Not the ones belting out cliched covers—the ones who “play real good for free.” If they’re good enough to get me to stop my bike, I usually make a donation.
Some other kinds of good music I’ve heard in downtown Santa Cruz in fairly recent memory:
Bluegrass fiddle
Spanish classical guitar
Berimbau
Dobro
Loud folk punk singers
Soulful singer-songwriters
Jolly Galician accordion tunes
How about you? Any additions to the list? Anyone have photos of Santa Cruz street musicians? Maybe I should start carrying my camera with me (though I’d have to learn to use it).
Saw a guy walking down Soquel Avenue. He wore snugly-fitting sparkling white jeans and a navy polo shirt, and sported wavy dark brown superhero hair. He held up in front of him a small cross made of two unpeeled sticks lashed together, and gazed solemnly and unwaveringly ahead as he paced toward downtown.
If I’d had a camera I definitely would have taken his picture.
I wish him well in his spiritual endeavors, unless he intends to aggressively proselytize heathens like me. Looked like he was on a pilgrimage to a modeling agency.
Love children’s books (like I do) but are wary of carrying them in public? Ward off the ridicule:
Westi loves springtime blossoms and I do too. Even more than the sight of pinky white clouds of cherry and plum blossoms, I love their scent. It’s one of a few flower smells that I’d love to stick my face in and breathe all day.
There’s a Japanese folksong about them. I couldn’t find one with vocals, but here’s a nice instrumental. It would sound more traditional on the koto (Japanese lute) but ukulele will do. I think of it as a quiet song, but Jake rocks out on his version:
Japan has a springtime custom called hanami, which means flower party. You picnic under the sakura. Perhaps for some, the picnic is an excuse to enjoy the flowers, and for some, the flowers are an excuse to enjoy food and socializing.
I’ve adored renaissance music for many years and I’ve wished more of my friends would join me in appreciating its charms.
If you’re unfamiliar with Western music before the Baroque era, here is a pleasing, friendly introduction to some lovely tunes. Originally sung or plucked on lute strings, they translate well to the modern classical guitar. One Jon Sayles has played, recorded and kindly made them available.
Almost 250 free mp3 downloads are just waiting for you - little ditties like Weep You No More Sad Fountains, A Shepherd in a Shade, or Soy Contento.
Just to give you a taste, here’s a catchy little German dance:
The selection on the site consists mostly of very genteel tunes. If you find them too sweet and mild, don’t write off all renaissance music. There’s wilder, more dramatic music from that time, too.
By the way, I used to sing many of the English songs with a group of SCA geeks in college. I can still do an adequate refrain of hey nonny nonny!
