Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > March 2008 > 2008.03.12 > 02Prev  Next


The Organ Grinder in Poetry and Song
By Joyce Brite

I recently acquired a book of poems by a favorite poet of mine, Alan
Seeger (1888-1916) who is also the uncle of folk singer Pete Seeger.
While browsing through the book, I discovered a poem which referenced
an organ grinder:

  An organ-grinder's melancholy tune
  In rainy streets, or from an attic sill
   (From "The Need to Love")

These two lines made me curious.  Was the tune melancholy or the
organ-grinder himself?  Is he melancholy because it is raining?  Did
organ-grinders actually play from attics rather than the streets?

These lines are fascinating because Seeger lived at a time when it
was more common to see organ grinders on the street.  Born in New York,
he also lived in Mexico and in Paris, France.  What experiences with
organ-grinders did he encounter that prompted him to write these lines?

Joyce Brite
Player Piano and Mechanical Music Exchange
http://www.mmdigest.com/Exchange/


(Message sent Wed 12 Mar 2008, 22:03:26 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Grinder, Organ, Poetry, Song

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page