I’m a great fan of street music, or busking, as its performance is called in this country. I usually stop and listen awhile, and usually have something for the tin, especially if they’re singing or playing something that isn’t ‘Streets of London’, or anything by Bob Dylan.
It struck me, too, as a possibility for some royalty-free music for my videos … as long as the composer has been dead for the requisite 75 years, and I make a bigger than usual donation.
I took this picture at the Sidmouth Music Festival, about five years ago. Sure, it’s generally associated with the West Indies, but do the players have to be West Indian? I mean, how many non-Aboriginal didgeree-doo players do you see? Quite a few … one of the best ones I know claims he has never been to Australia. How many players of the Peruvian pipes could point out Peru on a map?
What did, at first, strike me as a little odd was the tune the steel band were playing was Scotland the Brave!(And, no Jock! I don’t want to hear you playing ‘The Banana Boat Song’ on your bagpipes!)
Actually, a steel band can sound a bit like a well-played mandolin. I sat on a bench in town with my coffee this morning, listening to a busking steel band playing ‘Torna a Sorriento’ and ‘O Sole Mio’. And, very good they were, too. So good, I dropped a pound coin into their tin, rather than the ‘pocket shrapnel’ I usually give.
But, if you want incongruous! Since I’m such a fan of all things Greek and most things Australian, I couldn’t resist this. It was the best laugh I’ve had all week. Go to http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-nv0cALYV18&feature=related
(Edited 10/8/08 … this is a much better version!!)
That video is hilarious. I like street music too. There’s a great sax player in Newtown in Sydney who plays fantastic jazz. There is also a French accordian player. She plays a lot of Edith Piaf stuff. It’s brilliant!
By: Selma on August 10, 2008
at 2:37 pm
I’m not really keen on the sax as a solo instrument, especially if played in the street. There’s a certain pathos/sadness/loneliness about it … which, admittedly, some people like in their music.
What I do like to hear is steel bands, dulcimers, xylophones and Pan pipes. And, sometimes, a girl comes around and sings unaccompanied … and usually stops people in their tracks. I often think, she’ll make it one day, and I’ll say I used to drop coins in her hat when she was busking ….
By: travelrat on August 11, 2008
at 6:46 pm
Forgot to mention the didgeree-doo player in the Sunday market at Windsor. Ever see him?
By: travelrat on August 11, 2008
at 6:47 pm