Posts Tagged ‘musical saw’
Just Like Marlene Dietrich
They say if you sit in one place long enough in the NYC subway, eventually everyone will pass by you. Today it felt true: I just started my day busking at the 34th street subway station. A man came over, put a dollar in my donations’ bucket and said: “my grandmother played the musical saw”.…
Read MoreThree Musical Saw Players in One Family
On the train on my way to busking in the subway, three singers busking on the train said ‘hi’ to me. I told them that I’ll be busking at the 34th street subway station today. They said they will listen for me as they change train cars there throughout the day. When I got to…
Read MoreIs That Made of Cat Intestine?
When busking at the St George ferry terminal in NYC I know to go directly to the guard with the bomb-sniffing dog first, before venturing further into he space. If you don’t do it and you have a large bag – they’ll chase you. The dog, Tailor, was lounging on the floor. “Sorry to wake…
Read MoreMy Grandad and His Musical Saw
Every now and then I come across poems about the musical saw. It gives me great pleasure to share with you this poem, written by Mark Abraham, a Manchester based poet, whose work is regularly featured in publications across England and Wales. Mark wrote this poem about his grandfather, George Bromwich, who played the musical…
Read More20 People Together is a Lot
As I waited for the subway train to take me to my busking spot at 34th street, there were MTA workers taking a break on the platform. One leaned a ladder against the wall. Then I saw what they were doing – new white speakers were placed by the ceiling every 10 feet. This is…
Read MoreWas There a Musical Saw Player in the Subway in 1905?
As I entered the subway station a gentleman said ‘hi’ to me and mimed as if he was playing the musical saw, to indicate that he knows who I am. While I was setting up my busking gear two guys sitting on the bench came to ask me what musical instrument I play. A young…
Read MoreNobody Feels Like Being on Time on Monday
As I was riding the subway train on my way to busking in the subway, three guys singing ‘This Little Light of Mine’ said ‘hi’ to me as they transferred to the next car. One of them told me that he’s trying to battle a cold, and he’s singing with a soar throat. “Drink honey…
Read MoreMusical Clothes
While busking at the 14th street subway station, a man from the Ukraine asked me about the musical saw. After I explained how the musical saw works, he asked me: “Do the clothes you wear affect the sound? If you wear different clothes, does a different quality of sound come out of the saw?” At…
Read MoreShe Probably Doesn’t Remember Me
Making my way to my busking spot in the subway, as I was climbing up the subway station’s stairs, an elderly gentleman who was going DOWN the stairs volunteered to reverse his steps and help me carry my busking gear up the stairs. He must have been at least 70 years old. He then said…
Read MorePlaying for Pocket Change
When I was playing at the Music Under New Yorkbusking spot at 59th street & Lex subway station, Mark and Michael of ‘Suddenly Tragic Productions’ stopped by to chat with me. They asked me a lot of questions. Of course I knew they were filming, but what I didn’t know at the time was that…
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