One of the things I'm distressed by is the general lack of knowledge of
classical music among younger poets. I think I learned a lot more about
form, not to speak of sound, from devouring the canon. There's simply a
lack of complexity to popular music, as lovely or exciting as some of it is.
Also distressed at the general lack of knowledge of folk music, and I don't
mean the music of Bob Dylan and Donovan Leitch, profound students of the
tradition. It used to be one of the things that held us together as
communities.
My Carlos was taken to a Cailith (please, please correct my spelling) by a
then girlfriend of the Belfast Irish variety. He was utterly amazed that
everyone knew all the songs. In the US you'd have to go to a Protestant
church to find the like, and the fare would be hymns for breakfast lunch
and supper.
Mark
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