When I am not writing books about music, I am a musician writing songs and musing about current events from the perspective of a folklorist. In the posts below are links to my original songs and covers of my favorite tunes. Enjoy!
- What to do with old lettersA friend of mine who is deep into the task of clearing out the house she and her husband have lived in for some time and preparing for the “move to be nearer children” schtick—this friend mentioned having lots of old letters she was finding hard to just throw away. Why cart these letters across … Continue reading What to do with old letters
- Lessons from those who have left us
- Fairy tales
- Lament for Ukraine
- Merry Christmas
Later today I will brave the cold and drive to a friend’s house for a bit of Christmas cheer. It’s odd to be home rather than visiting with family at this time of year, but the extreme cold, Covid, flu, and the like suggest I should stay close to home. So, I’m here reading Michelle … Continue reading Merry Christmas - Why I Am Not Fond of Rituals
others who participate in the ritual. Michael Norton, Harvard professor of psychology and business administration, offered viewers a video called “Why Rituals Matter”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE42C8z9brE. In the video, he commented on the power rituals have to achieve aims other than the culturally specific ones that seem to be their intended purpose. In other words, rituals have … Continue reading Why I Am Not Fond of Rituals - Separated Families
Today would have been my brother Steve’s 77th birthday. This sad song by Irving Berlin always makes me think of how families must separate—through deaths, through wars, sometimes through hard decisions that force parting ways. Families in Ukraine are being separated by war. I think of the unwanted separations there and throughout the world caused … Continue reading Separated Families - For Our Teachers, Guides, and Counselors
It’s hard when a teacher retires, a minster moves on, or any beloved advisor is no longer available to us. But they have their own paths they must follow. It’s natural to be sad, but it’s also good to accept changes and move forward. Children sometimes catch on quickly and show us the way. - In Praise of Trees
We recently experienced the emergence of the 17-year cicadas. They have left us now but will come again in 17 years. Their egg-laying has affected the trees, leaving orange or brown leaves. But the trees (at least the mature ones) will not be permanently damaged. The annual cicadas have now returned, but not in such … Continue reading In Praise of Trees - Father’s Day 2021
My earliest memories of my father, Charles Dolby, are of him building things. He expanded the house I grew up in and built a lake cottage that we spent time in every summer. He was a city fireman, which meant rushing into burning buildings, and he once broke his foot in the line of duty. … Continue reading Father’s Day 2021 - From My Grandmother’s Bookshelf
My paternal grandmother was born on February 13, 1879. I always remembered her birthday as the day between Lincoln’s birthday and Valentine’s Day. She shared many wonderful books with me as I was growing up. This song reflects some images from one of them. - More Peace Somewhere
Losing friends to this pandemic is especially hard. Singing helps me cope. Here is an African American folksong that gives me some solace. - A Lonely Auld Lang Syne
For Christmas, my daughter gave me a digital photo frame, one of those devices that offers a continuous slide show—in this case, countless wonderful photos from some of the many trips she and I have taken together. Not only are the photographs beautiful, but they are of course also wistfully reminiscent of all the good … Continue reading A Lonely Auld Lang Syne - Treasure the Evergreens
I welcome this Christmas season as an opportunity to honor the trees we adopt as symbols of so many things this time of year—the evergreen, the fir tree, the wonderful trees that serve the planet all year with their essential exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. O Tannenbaum, how faithful are thy branches. - In the Bleak Midwinter
Back in the late 1800s Christina Rossetti wrote a long poem, “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and then later Gustav Holst (of The Planets fame) wrote a melody that is usually associated with the piece. Though occasionally found in some hymnals, the song is not as familiar as other Christmas carols. Here is a short version, … Continue reading In the Bleak Midwinter - Not Having the Usual Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving 2020 is going to be a much-reduced affair for most of us, but here is a little reminder of how it has been in years gone by. - Elect kind people
Kindness, kindness, kindness—this is the important trait so absent from our current president and his allies and defenders. Please let kindness be one of the most important requirements you bring to your decisions as you vote this time—at every level. We need competent people, yes, but we need their warmth and kindness, too. - The Wind Is a Metaphor
America needs more kindness, not more wealth and power. Please vote for men and women who demonstrate the kindness and civility our nation needs. We need Dumbledore, not Voldemort, and we need to save our democracy. - For Those We Have Lost
In the United States this year we have lost 200,000 people to the COVID-19 virus. I invite you to join me in singing the old African-American spiritual “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” in memory of the many people we have lost here in the US and around the world. - Looking Forward
Making these short music/picture videos has been an engaging project (at least for me). For the past six months, I have been cautious and, I like to think, considerate as this pandemic has stymied my participating in so many of the activities I would usually enjoy. And I expect to be making similar adjustments over … Continue reading Looking Forward - Singing Stories with Friends
I have always enjoyed songs that tell a story—ballads and folksongs, of course, but also operas, oratorios, ballets, and musicals. Child ballad #54 is the Cherry Tree Carol. It tells an unorthodox version of the Christmas story—from Joseph’s point of view. I sing it here by myself, without even my trusty guitar, but my favorite … Continue reading Singing Stories with Friends - A Little Politics: You Are the Ones
I know there are plenty of political ads out there, but I have always preferred books. Many of the people I am most willing to put my faith in as leaders have offered some of their ideas in book form, giving us a source we can think about, argue with, and return to as we … Continue reading A Little Politics: You Are the Ones - Since I’ve Dreamed
My thoughts flicker back to the characters I had in my head when writing The Handel Letters. Every now and then they seem to want to speak up again. I expect I will be giving them that chance fairly soon. Meanwhile, here is one more video—this one about dreaming, or not dreaming. A decade ago … Continue reading Since I’ve Dreamed - Take Life Easy
Books, articles, podcasts, and blogs offer an abundance of advice for coping with our COVID-related issues. The booming field of self-help writing is something I spent some time researching several years ago, reading more books on the topic than I ever want to again. Still, I remain intrigued by our tendency to seek out such … Continue reading Take Life Easy - Forced SeparationsMisery is inevitable when people are forced to leave loved ones, for whatever reason. We fail as a nation when we force such separations rather than finding ways to help people stay together and safe. Irving Berlin’s song from a century ago speaks anew to our current misery over forced separation.
- Coronavirus Headlines: Rising Sun
America’s rush to put everyone back to work is dangerous and cruel. Much more thought needs to be given to how we can best go forward and how we can put needed funding into making everyone’s present and future safe. I took the liberty of reinterpreting what the House of the Rising Sun might be. … Continue reading Coronavirus Headlines: Rising Sun - A repurposed folksong
As a folklorist, I have been dismayed at how our current administration here in the US has passed along misleading information, falsehoods, and vain beliefs about the pandemic now rampant in our world. The failure to lead, the ready acceptance of myths and wild speculations, the casual relating of false information—all of these are attempts … Continue reading A repurposed folksong - Fourth of July/Golden Vanity
July 4, 2020~a troubled time for celebrating our nation’s beginnings. Everyone claims to revere the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, and yet we have seen evidence of inequality in so many instances. And we have seen broken promises, powerful people reversing hard-won laws and regulations, directives that have in … Continue reading Fourth of July/Golden Vanity - Ellis Island
I remember the first time I visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The welcome and compassion for all who seek to come to America, ultimately for all who came in the past whether by their own choice or not, and for those who lived here before the white man came—that loving message still … Continue reading Ellis Island - The Last Time
This is not exactly a mirror image of the song made famous by Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson—“To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” However, it is a song in which I reminisce about past loves. Amidst all the sheltering in place, social distancing, avoiding crowds, etc., I have treated myself to a few “by … Continue reading The Last Time - Father’s Day
My father, Charles E. Dolby, was born and grew up in Huntington County, Lancaster Township, in northern Indiana. His parents were Frank and Gertrude (Beghtel) Dolby. For most of his adult life he lived on Vine Street. He was trained as a barber and practiced barbering for a while but then joined the City Fire … Continue reading Father’s Day - Motherless Child
Juneteenth—a day of celebration. Enslaved people in Texas finally (1865) got the news that they were emancipated. African-Americans have had precious few occasions to celebrate, and this event and the eventual Emancipation Proclamation, the 15th and 19th amendments to the Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, and a … Continue reading Motherless Child - Last barrel down
What does a 20-year old think about when she is socially isolated? Here is a song I wrote when I was around 20 years old, still in college, unmarried, wondering what life held in store. I thought of the song again as I pondered the many effects our current social and physical distancing has had … Continue reading Last barrel down - Out of the depths
This video includes a song I wrote based on the opening line of Psalm 130. I believe we can expect to find peace only if and when we ensure justice for all our people. On June 15, 2020, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, will reopen after shutting down due to … Continue reading Out of the depths - Turn your back to the wind
There are many things I dislike about Trump. He continues to act like a reality show host rather than a President, and that shallow showmanship includes his being a blowhard through his daily Twitter posts. Twitter has finally at least started warning people that his tweets are faulty and should be fact checked. I think … Continue reading Turn your back to the wind - Ask your children
Some years ago I wrote a song called simply “Daughter.” In the current context, I view the song as asking people my daughter’s age and younger if they will, in effect, accept the burden of rescuing the planet and our nation from the scourge of conspiracy theories and those who promote and encourage them. I … Continue reading Ask your children - A Good One for Mother’s Day, or Why I Like Disney’s Frozen II
Disney’s 2013 hit Frozen was immensely successful. I enjoyed it, and the song “Let It Go” was an inescapable earworm for quite a while. You can hear the song here. But quite a few people (myself included) were not immediately impressed with the sequel, Frozen II, which came out in 2019. However, I’ve now watched … Continue reading A Good One for Mother’s Day, or Why I Like Disney’s Frozen II - Mother’s Day 2020
I miss my mother every day. She was a truly marvelous person. I wrote this song–“The First One”–shortly after she died eighteen years ago. Loretta Dolby was bright, creative, caring, gracious, loving, musical, patient, hard-working, always fair, insightful, nearly always smiling, and above all warmly and intensely engaged with everyone around her. At age sixteen, … Continue reading Mother’s Day 2020 - May Day 2020
When I was little, May Day was the day I gathered various wild flowers or dandelions into a little basket and left them on my grandmother’s porch early in the morning. She always acted dutifully surprised and wondered who could possibly have left them. Much later I learned about Morris Dancers and maypoles and International … Continue reading May Day 2020 - The Righteous Penny
In that recent video with illustrations by Violet Moore Higgins and the song “Man of No Dreams,” I had one slide that included the title of a story from the folktale collection—“The Righteous Penny.” The story is one more often translated as “The Honest Penny,” and you may read one such translation here. The story … Continue reading The Righteous Penny - Man of No Dreams
This is a song I wrote back in the 1960s. It incorporates a lot of story motifs that I recalled from my favorite fairytale collection, East o’ the Sun and West o’ the Moon. George Webbe Dasent’s 1859 English translation of this Norwegian collection is most famous, but my childhood favorite was one my grandmother … Continue reading Man of No Dreams - A song on Earth Day
Some years ago I wrote a song titled When I Wanted Warm. My thought was that the earth could be like a person, sometimes warm, sometimes cold, but of course I meant that metaphorically. Clearly, I wanted that someone to be warm and loving, rather than cold. On this Earth Day, we need to recognize … Continue reading A song on Earth Day - Wayfaring stranger
Would Handel have known the hymn that became known as Wayfaring Stranger? Many argue that it is an American folksong from the 19th century, but others suggest it might have been a hymn popular in late 18th-century Germany. It is unlikely that Handel knew the song, but I expect he would have liked its message … Continue reading Wayfaring stranger - For the record
Handel blog 12* From Angela: Forella asked me to send this along to our group. Fortunately for us, Forella’s townhouse is large enough that our little “family” is sheltering in place pretty comfortably, with me on the lower level, Forella on the main floor, and Annie and Randolph on the upper floor. We come together … Continue reading For the record - No chance to mourn
Handel blog 11* From Katherine: Several times, in our phone conversations, Forella has expressed her gratitude at having Angela and Annie and Randolph there with her in her roomy townhouse while this pandemic oozes around outside. Ross has adhered to the advice not to visit her, and she sees the wisdom in that, she admits. … Continue reading No chance to mourn - A Silesian folk tune
Is it possible that Handel knew the Silesian folk tune usually called the Crusaders’ Hymn? The tune is that old, but this was before composers were fond of adapting folk melodies into their compositions. In any case, here for your Easter listening, is my rendition of the Crusaders’ Hymn, or Fairest Lord Jesus, along with … Continue reading A Silesian folk tune - Knowing and keeping our parents, grandparents, and nursing home residents
From Forella: I have asked Angela to write out and post this message, but these are my thoughts, as will no doubt be apparent. Angela told me of the death of the songwriter John Prine. My era of music was a little before his, but I know Ross has always loved his songs. I do … Continue reading Knowing and keeping our parents, grandparents, and nursing home residents - Helping with home crafts
Handel blog 7* From Katherine: I have several friends who are making surgical style facemasks for family, friends, health care workers, farm workers, or whoever needs them. There is information online about patterns and the best kind of material, and people have been innovative in finding ways to make the masks more effective, reusable, and … Continue reading Helping with home crafts - Maybe it’s misinformation
Handel blog 6* From Katherine: If you watch television, some sources say do wear a mask. Others say it is unnecessary, just a recommendation. Some say find that malaria medicine; it will cure the virus. Doctors say nothing has been proven to work against COVID-19. Some news sources say things are starting to turn around. … Continue reading Maybe it’s misinformation - Coronavirus masks
Handel blog 3* From Katherine: Well, we talked about the Plague song “O du lieber Augustin” last time. I’ve seen quite a few songs popping up on social media—either parodies that reference the coronavirus or sometimes simply old songs meant to distract us from our worries. But today I wanted to bring together comments some … Continue reading Coronavirus masks - Du lieber AugustinHandel blog 2* From Katherine: Most of you have signed on for this little Handel Seminar extension. Forella, I think you had a great idea! Thanks. I’ll post the comments that came in and set them up with a little editing. I know we could do this without this extra step, but that would take … Continue reading Du lieber Augustin
- The Plague and COVID-19Handel Blog 1* From Katherine: As we have all been ordered to “shelter in place,” Forella has asked me to resurrect the Handel Seminar—only this time as a blog. I no longer have Benfey here to help with the technology, so you will have to be patient with my poor skills in getting this blog … Continue reading The Plague and COVID-19
- Why Would a Folklorist Write a Book about Handel?~Handel ≠ Folklore~ In the “Preface” to The Handel Letters, I cited the field of folklore research for its role in guiding my way of living a life of learning, teaching, and writing. But why exactly would a folklorist choose to study Handel and write a ‘biographical conversation” based on his life? I suspect … Continue reading Why Would a Folklorist Write a Book about Handel?
- That First Time Ever Album
Here is the cover from that album recorded back in the 1960s. FYI. - A Valentine for the TeacherWe have looked at the cover art of The Handel Letters, and I have talked a little about why I chose to have illustrations at the head of each chapter. I’ll say more about those illustrations at another time and also explain the subtitle of the book—A Biographical Conversation. I warned you that I would … Continue reading A Valentine for the Teacher
- The Norwegian Tales: My Inspiration for Including Illustrations
The Norwegian Tales: My Inspiration for Including Illustrations Last time I shared the fact that I had asked my daughter to create the illustrations that grace the chapter heads and the cover of The Handel Letters. Here I would like to say a little more about what prompted me to have illustrations in the book. … Continue reading The Norwegian Tales: My Inspiration for Including Illustrations - Book Covers and Illustrations
Books and Illustrations February 6, 2018 I will guess that the first thing you will notice about The Handel Letters: A Biographical Conversation is the cover. I opted for the matte finish paperback cover, and I am glad I did. It feels and looks good—a good choice, I think. CreateSpace has various templates for covers, … Continue reading Book Covers and Illustrations - A blog on Handel, books, folklore, and identities.In these posts on my website, you may read my running commentary and updating of information related to my recent book, The Handel Letters: A Biographical Conversation. The book is quite long (over 600 pages), and many topics included in the book lend themselves to shorter essays or asides. Offering these expansions is the aim … Continue reading A blog on Handel, books, folklore, and identities.