Thursday, July 24, 2008

Yani busking at Davis square...


It was seven in the evening. At this part of the world in summer the sun do not set at that time unlike in the tropic when by this time the sun is already at the horizon. Indeed a beautiful day to go to the park and enjoy the evening in an atmosphere of freshness and tranquility. I decided to take a walk to Davis Square which is near our house just to do that, relax and enjoy the day. As I approach it I heard someone strumming and singing. It was real nice to hear lives music been performed at such a place. I look on and found a gorgeous artist strumming her banjo and humming/singing evergreen melodies. I found a comfortable bench and sat and listen to the melody of great music and songs of the past, of my growing up era. I love such music and song and felt good about it. Her contribution adds color to the environment of this park.

We often see such person perform alone or in a small group at street corner or at the subway. We do get such performers in Kuala Lumpur. One day while walking through the underpass toward the LRT [Light Rail Transit] station at the KLCC, I notice a group of young man playing their musical instruments and singing along. I took my time and watch them perform. Before I left I donate some Ringgit in appreciation of their contribution to making the environment full of colorful music and songs.

And today at Davis square I felt real good, getting to listen to good music been strum by this artist, while delivering a beautiful song. She seems to enjoy doing it and the song just flows from her. So natural and I believe she love sitting there and perform, what folks here call busking. It is more of the love of doing it and enjoying every minutes of it that made her solo performance so good and enjoyable. I continue to sit and enjoy her music and song and when she stops for awhile I took the opportunity to congratulate her. She was delighted and thanks me for appreciating her kind of music and song. With that we got into introducing ourselves and in a way became friends. It was real nice to get to talk to her. She then proceed with here performances and I continue to enjoy her presentation.

Soon there were crowds, with parents and their kids listening to her performance and a numbers of the kids came forward to meet and sang with her. It was indeed nice to see kids so responsive to music and song. In a way it gives them the opportunity to be exposed to music at an early age. A good beginning for kids, for Music, Math and Science are subjects that have a chemistry of its own. And the combination often increases the IQ of kids, thus nurturing them into successful students in whatever discipline they pursue in their education. For that matter all our grandchildren goes to music class and I believe it would help them in their education, as well it would provide for them a better quality of life during adulthood.

Later on via an email she has this to say of herself:-

" Thank you for listening to my music. Let's see, I've been playing the banjo for 30 years, and have been in many different bands. The banjo is an Appalachian style with no back and my style of playing is clawhammer. I really like the sound it is clear and melodic. Some of the songs are original and others traditional. The song always makes me feel good. My whole family is musical and a few of my sibling are professional players. ..Thank you, Yani."

Thanks Yani for giving so much to making the day of others so wonderfully colorful. I believe everyone that day felt good as well. As for me it was really an enjoyable evening in a place faraway from home. Folks have a nice day. [Posted in NY]

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Salaam Pak Idrus,
Ahh, acoustics. I like it very much :) My kind of music is rather universal, but Acoustic and instrumental have a very special place in me.

Unknown said...

Salam Pak Idrus,
Your picture tell million words.Not only the place you visited is beautiful but the lovely detailed of your visit.Thank You for sharing with us,Thank You again and have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pak Idrus,

I love listening to the buskers. Apparently here, they are interviewed before giving the license to perform (in the underground/tube station).

It's always good to start your day with a beautiful song. By the way, the whale pictures are awesome. My daughter has been asking me to take her to see dolphins.

Have a nice day Pak!

svllee said...

Dear Pak Idrus, you have a great ability to make friends even on the street or in the park. You are living out your motto 'strangers are friends you have not met', bravo. You are a shining example in this respect. Life is too short to pass strangers by, who knows, that stranger might one day be in need of your inspiration, aid , vice versa, or just play beautiful music like Yani!

Pak Idrus said...

akmal, thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on this wonderful folks in the musical world. Like you I love their kind of performances.

Have a nice day.

Pak Idrus said...

uncleawang, thanks for the visit and the kind words on my way of blogging.

I did all those things like writing and photography with love and I guess that the result is what you get to read and see, with loves as well. I am indeed glad that you love all those posting.

Have a nice day.

Pak Idrus said...

ms istanbul, thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on this subject. Like you I love watching and listening to busker. They are great people with the hearts of gold, giving so much in his/her own way so that others may enjoy their day.

Well, should hope on tho Boston in Summer and take the kids to watch whale of dolphin. It is a really fantastic scene to watch it in its own environment.

Have a nice day.

Pak Idrus said...

svllee, thanks for the visit and the compliment on my way of making friends.

Like I often say, those folks should never continue to be strangers. Take the first step and you are on your way to meet new friends. I love to chat with strangers who most of the time have the same chemistry with me, thus those chat became the first step into friendship.

Like you said, life is too short so let use all the time you have got to enjoy life as well as making others happy as well.

Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

I think it's wonderful that you had an email exchange with someone you met randomly, all because you took the time to appreciate their work, in this case, her music.

Pak Idrus said...

georgia, thanks for the visit and the kind words on this posting.

Busker are special people, they entertain because they love what they are doing. And I happen to be one of the person who enjoy such performance especially so in oldies. On introduction she hand me her card and of course I gave her mine, thus we not only became friend but could communicate further.

Hope that you are great there in California. Have a nice day and take care.