Another fabulous piece, Andrew. You make a totally persuasive argument for Dylan's direct descent from the line of bards and balladmongers that included Shakespeare. If you're ever in the mood for taking requests, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Dylan in relation to the rebel ballad tradition. In reading your latest, I sometimes found myself thinking of Lady Gregory's folk play The Rising of the Moon, in which an Irish fugitive flees the law in the disguise of a balladmonger, using ballads as code for his rebel activities. Could make for an interesting future installment in the series, if you're so inclined.
Yes, that would be a fine topic, rich and detailed.
Hold on, though! Heck, I’ve still some way to go in this series, yet.
You might beat me to it, though, I’ve another possibility to perhaps write first and I’m slowing down. Everything takes so much longer with a an ancient memory. I think you’ll overtake me before I’d get to it. Actually, with your prolificity, you’ll overtake and lap me a few times before then.
Of course the great leveller was the "dance of death"or "danse macabre, a favourite form of ballad since the late middle ages, in which rich and poor could both participate. "Tempest" is an example of this genre.
Full title is "Die stimmen aus der Unterwelt: Bob Dylans Mysterienspiele'. He looks at the possible influences of a whole range of earlier genres/concepts and works, which include mystery plays, Shakespeare, minstrelsy, danse macabre, courtly love, mysticism, and both epic and heroic poetry.
You could certainly drop him an email as he speaks very good English (was a Prof in USA) and seems pretty open to discussing with others. Not sure how to get his contact details, maybe Göttingen Uni or Beck Verlag, but where there's a will there's a way.
Another fabulous piece, Andrew. You make a totally persuasive argument for Dylan's direct descent from the line of bards and balladmongers that included Shakespeare. If you're ever in the mood for taking requests, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Dylan in relation to the rebel ballad tradition. In reading your latest, I sometimes found myself thinking of Lady Gregory's folk play The Rising of the Moon, in which an Irish fugitive flees the law in the disguise of a balladmonger, using ballads as code for his rebel activities. Could make for an interesting future installment in the series, if you're so inclined.
Thanks once again for your kind words, Graley.
Yes, that would be a fine topic, rich and detailed.
Hold on, though! Heck, I’ve still some way to go in this series, yet.
You might beat me to it, though, I’ve another possibility to perhaps write first and I’m slowing down. Everything takes so much longer with a an ancient memory. I think you’ll overtake me before I’d get to it. Actually, with your prolificity, you’ll overtake and lap me a few times before then.
Thanks Andrew. What a fine exploration of the context and development of our favourite "song & dance man".
Of course the great leveller was the "dance of death"or "danse macabre, a favourite form of ballad since the late middle ages, in which rich and poor could both participate. "Tempest" is an example of this genre.
Thanks, Paul. Ah yes, another response, following on from Graley's, that cries out for a book length study.
Recommended for those who can read German. Heinrich Detering's 'Bob Dylans Mysterienspiele', München 2016.
Full title is "Die stimmen aus der Unterwelt: Bob Dylans Mysterienspiele'. He looks at the possible influences of a whole range of earlier genres/concepts and works, which include mystery plays, Shakespeare, minstrelsy, danse macabre, courtly love, mysticism, and both epic and heroic poetry.
Sounds fascinating. I cannot, alas, read German. Do you think there's any plans for a translation at some point?
You could certainly drop him an email as he speaks very good English (was a Prof in USA) and seems pretty open to discussing with others. Not sure how to get his contact details, maybe Göttingen Uni or Beck Verlag, but where there's a will there's a way.
maren.ermisch@phil.uni-goettingen.de
might be a start.
Thanks again, Paul. Very helpful.