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This Bluegrass Life – “The Disposable Town”

by Christine | May 12, 2018 | Welcome Column

Their minds arrived at the small town long before their bodies. Their minds arrived days, weeks, months, and sometimes 361 days ahead of their existential shells. And when the time had come, the bodies made their way to cars, vans, camper vehicles,...

This Bluegrass Life – “The Last Wish” (Fiction Based On Fiction)

by Christine | Jul 8, 2017 | Welcome Column

So there is this ocean liner cruise that happened last year. Not just any cruise, mind you, but a cruise ship with a band (No, not the Titanic II). And, mind you again, not just one band, but six bands. And not just six bands you might expect on a sea cruise, but six...

This Bluegrass Life – “The Pursuit of Excellence”

by Christine | Mar 14, 2020 | Welcome Column

Okay I could be wrong. But I’ll wager that most of you CBA folks are not in a bluegrass band, or any band for that matter. Maybe you were in a band, or will be in a band, but are not in a band now. Yes I know, some of you are thinking, “Oh yeah, I’m...

This Bluegrass Life – “Those Mandolin Guys”

by Christine | Nov 14, 2020 | Welcome Column

So there is this guy named Orville Gibson. He was born in 1865, and he hung around Kalamazoo, Michigan during a significant part of his life. Why is Orville important to mandolins? Because he redesigned what the world knew as a mandolin way back then. I’m...

This Bluegrass Life – “To Play Is the Thing”

by Christine | Mar 11, 2018 | Welcome Column

Oh why then should I play? The stage will not reach out and embrace me. Thunderous applause will not reach well worn ears. Why open the case? Why draw the rosin laden bow across waiting hungry strings? Why bother? The ghosts of Howdy Forester and Vassar will...

This Bluegrass Life – “Tone Poems, Tone Poets, and Tone Addicts”

by Christine | Nov 29, 2020 | Welcome Column

Poem: “Something that arouses strong emotion because of its beauty.”Poet: “A person with special powers of imagination or expression.”Tone: “A musical sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength.”Back in 1994 David...
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