We here at Bloody Nib Manor are not a particularly musical lot. Occasionally a harmonica will come out for a much demanded imitation of the Royal Scotsman steaming north, or a vocal rendition of "Jerusalem" before a cricket match. But mostly it's a matter of turning the dial of the wireless to catch the dulcet tones of Vera Lynn or, perhaps, listening to an Elgar piece broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall on a Sabbath afternoon. We have been much the poorer for our inability to think of a key as something to open a door instead of a signature on a musical staff.
A few mornings ago, after a long night spent at the mill, I happened to turn on the television and tuned into what is jokingly referred to as the news. Between the stories of death and destruction, and ducks trying to cross a freeway, a truly important story was reported. It concerned a school in Indiana where one of the teachers has formed a novelty band made up of children ranging in ages from seven to fourteen. The band is called the Keystrummers. Imagine seeing more than a dozen lads and lassies strumming ukueleles, playing washboards, honking bulb horns and singing the old chestnut "Five Foot Two" while having a good time. It was fantastic! The music was fun and the idea was even more fun and very important for the following reasons. They were learning music while having fun, they weren't sitting in front of televisions or computers, they weren't listening to rap and dressing and trying to act like 50 Cent or Emenim. The boys and girls were wearing Hawaiian shirts -- not enough cheap jewelry to make it look like they ran through the jewelry department at Wal Mart with a magnet or droopy drawers or striking poses like cheap ghetto gangsters (and, if one is going to pretend to be a gangster, why try to look like a Crip instead of a Mafioso? Mafia guys dress better).
The Keystrummers have a website:Welcome to The Key Strummers! Give the site a look and, if you have a little extra in the coin purse, you might want to consider making a contribution. The learning and appreciation of music is, in your correspondent's opinion, a better investment of time than promoting midnight basketball.
Arthur Godfrey, not one of my favorite television personalities but he was right occasionally, once said something to the effect of, "A person cannot be mad or sad while playing the uke." Perhaps the opinion of a Hawaiian may differ, but I doubt it. Could the uke be the key to world peace? May the Islamic world be calmed by the dropping of ukes throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia?
Consider the fact that during the 1910s and 1920s, during the height of the uke's popularity in the continental United States, popular songs tended to be more happy and upbeat than they now are. Songs such as "They're Wearing Them Higher in Hawaii" and "Somebody Stole My Gal," were the popular hits. None of this present day nonsense about bustin' caps and bustin' booty and bustin' teeth. And those days were, in fact, much rougher days than now.
It is sometimes said that the 17th and 18th centuries were the centuries of the amateur. Many scientific discoveries and some of the foundational literature of the English language were made by amateurs. Examples would be Ben Franklin and John Bunyan. The present day is the age of the professional. We turn on the wireless and hear the exceptions in musical talent. When a person picks up a guitar and doesn't sound like Ted Nugent in two weeks they feel that their musical talent is nil, when, in fact, it may be perfectly good, just not exceptional. The uke, along with the harmonica, is the perfect amateurs instrument. In the course of daily life one rarely hears the professional uke player, and so one is able to play along as one wishes without measuring oneself against the best. The uke is a jumping flea that makes one laugh even at mistake.
Your faithful correspondent's mother, the ever lovely Countess Nib, has stated that she likes the sound of the uke, even when played badly. Be it known that Countess Nib has high standards in music, preferring Wagner over Henry Mancini and Perry Como over Sinatra And if she has appreciation for the lowly uke the instrument must have something going for it.
Ian Whitcomb, musicologist and performer, is a uke fan. Ian, for those of you of an age may remember, recorded the song, "You Really Turn Me On" back in the 60s. You might consider looking at his website:Ian Whitcomb - The Foremost Ukuelele, Ragtime, and Tin Pan Alley Recording Arti
Jim Beloff has taken on the job of being a missionary for the uke. He has written several music books for uke, and he also sells ukes on his website. Two of the ukes he sells are the Fluke and the Fleas, the uke versions of Ovation guitars. Jim's website has a lot more than just sales. He's a treasure of uke lore and knowledge and probably deserves a knighthood from the Queen for his efforts. His website is:Ukuelele Music Lovers and Ukuelele Players Love Flea Market Music and Jim Beloff
Finally, the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole recorded probably the most beautiful and bittersweet version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" with a uke accompaniment. The recording is on the CD Facing the Future and is available from Amazon.com. Iz showed, in his body of work, that the uke is a complete instrument that can be fun or touching, but never angry.
So, go through your grandmother's (or great grandmother's) attic and see if you can find a uke. Or go through your old stuff. Maybe you can find your old Mousegeetar. Once you start strumming you'll be doing a lot less danging. Who knows? You may be the next George Formby.
Now if I can only find the sheet music to "Jerusalem."
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