Its a tonic I recommend.
by
, Nov-06-2016 at 2:41pm (5333 Views)
I sat down the other afternoon, with my mandolin, just me and myself, and played and played and played. Missed dinner and played until bed time.
The rip-snorting great time I had took me far away from the issues of the day, national, local, social, political. It transported me way beyond whether Sierra Hull can be considered a bluegrasser, or whether or not one should be admonished for using a capo, whether an octave mandolin is a mandola or a tenor mandola or a tenor mandolin, or whether a $35 dollar pick is better than 140 picks at four for a buck.
I just made musical sounds that surprised and delighted me, for a little more than several hours.
I solved nothing, became no more, or less, certain about my prejudices within and without the mandolin world. I managed to avoid getting angry, or even, or frustrated with anyone, any person on the whole planet.
I recommend it. It’s a tonic for the times we live in.
Next morning I looked again at the world, and for a brief moment I couldn’t imagine why everyone is so contentious.
Quickly enough the world’s context reasserted itself and after just a day or two, I am as prejudiced and irritated as I ever was.
Time to play some music.