The Circle Unbroken
In the early 1970's a series of recordings were made by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a group of Californians who found their soul in the music of the Appalachian Mountains, along with many of the legends of that music including Mother Mabelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements, Junior Husky, Norman Blake and Pete Oswald Kirby. I've owned an album of these recordings, "Will the Circle be Unbroken", since they first became available 35 years ago and have listen to them on a regular basis ever since.
The last of the recording in the album is a tune, "Both Sides Now", written by Joni Mitchell and played as a gentle guitar solo by Earl's son, Randy Scruggs, as a temporary leaving this circle of music until you can rejoin it. Anyhow, I've always wanted to be able to play "Both Sides" on guitar and to my great joy (I thought) I recently found a transcription of the tune. Since then I've worked tireless on playing the piece, making certain that the notes and the timing were just right. So, come Sunday morning, I decided I'd mastered it and was ready to compare my rendition to the one played by Randy Scruggs on "Circle". Perhaps I would even play along with Randy.
The comparison was total devastation.
Scruggs version was music, poetic and powerful. In comparison, mine was nothing more than a collection of notes played in the correct sequence and at the right time, prosaic and weak. I was once again reminded that I'm not a musician by any stretch of the imagination. Oh, I'll keep playing "Both Sides". I have the instrument and the will to do it. I just don't have the God-given talent to give it a poetic rendition. So, I'll accept that and just make certain that no one other than me and Sam are listening when I try!
The last of the recording in the album is a tune, "Both Sides Now", written by Joni Mitchell and played as a gentle guitar solo by Earl's son, Randy Scruggs, as a temporary leaving this circle of music until you can rejoin it. Anyhow, I've always wanted to be able to play "Both Sides" on guitar and to my great joy (I thought) I recently found a transcription of the tune. Since then I've worked tireless on playing the piece, making certain that the notes and the timing were just right. So, come Sunday morning, I decided I'd mastered it and was ready to compare my rendition to the one played by Randy Scruggs on "Circle". Perhaps I would even play along with Randy.
The comparison was total devastation.
Scruggs version was music, poetic and powerful. In comparison, mine was nothing more than a collection of notes played in the correct sequence and at the right time, prosaic and weak. I was once again reminded that I'm not a musician by any stretch of the imagination. Oh, I'll keep playing "Both Sides". I have the instrument and the will to do it. I just don't have the God-given talent to give it a poetic rendition. So, I'll accept that and just make certain that no one other than me and Sam are listening when I try!
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