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Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 01/28/2014: 11:49:30
I wanted to post a couple of songs that I learned from Pete Seeger in tribute, but when I checked my BHO video page i realized that there were about 10 of them there.
Here are a few.
I first heard "Malaika" on his album "Strangers and Cousins" and I actually learned how to play it when I was working in Tanzania, where the song comes from. I didn't tell the Tanzanians that I had Pete Seeger's singing in my memory when I worked it out on the banjo. The English translation is my own, with a little input from my Tanzanian friends.
"The Fox" appears on one side of the album "Birds, Beasts, Bugs & Bigger Fishes" that I've had since I was a child (10" autographed copy). On the other side of that record appears the Cumberland Mountain Bear Chase, complete with story and sound effects. My version of the Fox might be seen as a mash-up of those two.
The Theme of the "Goofing-Off Suite" comes from the album of the same name, which I have also had since childhood (okay, I absconded with the family's copy when I grew up) - also a 10" autographed copy. My version is quite distant from Pete's - perhaps barely recognizable. I was just noodling around one day and it emerged, and I made a quick video of it. I'm glad I did, since I've forgotten how I played it since then.
I know "Down By the Riverside" from Pete's playing and singing in concert. No doubt I have it on some records, though I don't remember which. The version here was a pretty spontaneous affair, and much slower and more somber than this song is usually sung. I like that the audience is singing along unbidden, just like when Pete sang.
Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 02/03/2014 12:41:37
JanetB - Posted - 01/28/2014: 15:35:19
A true tribute Marc, to a person you hold in great esteem. He'd be honored! The variety of your choices makes this a good sampling and I'm glad you shared them today.
The one I'd like to record one day is Cumberland Mountain Bear Chase. Abiyoyo is one I show my students from Pete's Reading Rainbow performance. He uses the word "ostracized" to describe the main characters (a father and son), but the story goes on to show how these outbackers were the heroes of the day.
Have you read his book In His Own Words?
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 01/28/2014: 19:32:19
Thanks Janet.
I've only started "In His Own Words".
When I got it, I immediately lent it to my then 89 year old mother to read first. She's finished it now and given it back to me. Her summary? "Some of it is very interesting. Some of it is quite boring. But I read it all, and I'm glad I did."
This morning my mother told me the story of how my father would just phone her up and spring it on her that Pete Seeger was in town and was coming over for dinner. She would rush around and clean up the house and try and figure out how to stretch the meal for an extra person. One time she just shoved everything into the hall closet and held it in by closing the door. When Pete arrived, he went straight over to the closet to hang up his coat, but when he opened the closet door, everything fell out on him. My mother was mortified. But Pete just laughed and said: "Oh! A Fibber McGee closet! We have one just like it at home!" and that was the end of her embarrassment.
Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 01/28/2014 19:41:14
83xr2 - Posted - 01/29/2014: 05:26:24
I have really enjoyed you sharing your memory's ,I really love your version of down by the riverside and would love to learn it , and as an ex soldier it has some personal meaning to me
Zischkale - Posted - 01/29/2014: 07:00:47
Great stories, Marc! Nailed that rendition of The Fox--I can't remember when I first heard that one, but instantly remembered it on lyrics about "towns-oh" and "bones-oh". I gotta think about working on a story-song of that type, there's a lot of value in knowing something like that. Malaika's real cool too, have never heard that one. At some point I need to figure out how you do that percussive right hand stuff.
leslie benjamin - Posted - 01/29/2014: 14:35:00
Pete's notations in a folk song book confesses that he likes the song "The Fox" because "it is nice to see the fox for once treated as the hero." Pete always rooted for the underdog...Never met the man, but he was always one of my best friends....someone I knew I would get along well with and would happily invite to my home. He never had a "fame" complex. He was a humble, and beautiful man.
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 01/30/2014: 06:46:43
Thanks very much for the comments.
Zischkale - that "percussive right hand stuff" you talk about seems to me to be largely some straightforward up and down strumming with my index and thumb together (kind of like flat-picking without a flat-pick) worked right into the flow of clawhammer. It kind of happened spontaneously at a certain point, and I've retained it in a lot of my playing without really knowing exactly what I'm doing. As with a lot of aspects of my playing, when I try to slow it down and see what I'm doing, it changes. So it's a bit mysterious to me, as well.
Zischkale - Posted - 01/31/2014: 09:43:24
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Nerenberg
Thanks very much for the comments.
Zischkale - that "percussive right hand stuff" you talk about seems to me to be largely some straightforward up and down strumming with my index and thumb together (kind of like flat-picking without a flat-pick) worked right into the flow of clawhammer. It kind of happened spontaneously at a certain point, and I've retained it in a lot of my playing without really knowing exactly what I'm doing. As with a lot of aspects of my playing, when I try to slow it down and see what I'm doing, it changes. So it's a bit mysterious to me, as well.
Duly noted--I started off playing guitar with a pick, so I think I could work some of that into my playing. It'd be easiest to do on closed chords, I would think! Sounds cool!
Jim Yates - Posted - 01/31/2014: 12:20:52
I still like to play Pete's version of Skip To My Lou in drop C tuning. Monongahela Sal, Time's a Gettin' Hard, Hobo's Lullaby and Livin' In The Country are still part of my repertoire. Although I've never played it on stage, I often play Woody's Rag around the house or at jams. Maggie likes to sing Precious Friends. When I taught school, I would tell the kids the story of Abiyoyo and The Foolish Frog. Just a few of the tunes I've learned from Pete.
You were very lucky to have known him Marc.
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 02/01/2014: 11:57:05
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Yates
...
You were very lucky to have known him Marc.
Indeed, I was Jim, Indeed I was.
Knowing Pete has affected the entire trajectory of my life - in many very good ways.
Bill - Posted - 02/04/2014: 06:45:50
A beautiful tribute to one Master from another. Well done, Marc.
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 02/06/2014: 19:17:02
Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much. I do appreciate the appreciation.
