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Once you're done contemplating how cute Yuja Wang is and how ugly Wanda Landowska was, read this Sunday's NY Times magazine's fascinating cover story on these two little-known blues artists from the early 20th century who made one record together in 1930. The larger story is how a furniture-turned-record company in Wisconsin decided to scour the deep South for this music and record it in the late 20s and early 30s.
Edits: 04/17/14Follow Ups:
These songs filled and gripped me thirty years ago, when I first heard them. I appreciate that this effect isn't universal, and that even some curious listeners might not be struck thus--just as I fail sometimes to find deep and meaningful differences among examples of polka, klezmer, ragas, etc.I am grateful for the publication, and for the efforts of collectors, academics, cultural anthropologists, and monomaniacal archivists, without whose work most of this heritage might have been lost to me or my children. Esoterica, yes, and thanks that the world's margins are still wide enough for esoterica, and that generations continue to find emotional and spiritual life in the songs, artists, and stories. These are a genuine part of this country's history and heritage, and the wild spelunking that may be required to find and preserve such treasures is a fit subject for long study, even if the treasures themselves aren't resplendent to everyone.
EDIT: I did not mean this post to sound chiding. I understand that many have little or no feeling for the music. I very much enjoy the preservation and study of what might otherwise vanish, particularly when it holds so much spirit.
Edits: 04/17/14 04/17/14
Nicely done!
Even though I read the entire article, and was fascinated by it's author's dedication, in the end I thought it was perhaps a bit too long. And marveled that the magazine's editors regarded its content as something with any sort of broad appeal. (Of course, this is a newspaper that seems to think that hip hop is the most important musical genre around, based on what one sees in its Arts & Leisure section. Perhaps it's just me, but I can't help but wonder what that says about the Times readership these days.)
Talk about esoterica! I have to admit that I wasn't moved to seek out the music, especially since I have a tough time dealing with the kind of poor sound quality the recordings surely have. Guess I'll just have to leave it to others to enjoy.
I found the story fascinating but, after listening to the music provided, failed to understand what the fuss was about. Perhaps it was my unfamiliarity with the genre.
One problem with listening to early, primitive blues today (and I don't mean "primitive" in the insulting sense), other than the scratchy records, poor sound and even poorer production values, is that this music has had such a profound and permanent influence on American (and worldwide) popular music that today it can sound not only crude, but ordinary. IMO it often has to be placed in historical context to be fully appreciated.
This was helpful, and very well put.
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