Once I had a sweetheart (roughly interpreted)

Once I had a sweetheart (roughly interpreted) on guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on November 1, 2022

This traditional song of which I only play guitar was most memorably played and sung by Bert Jansch on his record album entitled “Rosemary Lane”. Bert Jansch (since gone from this world) was probably more influencial than many other musicians on my psyche (human mind, soul, and spirit). My improvised version is imperfect and perhaps flawed in its brevity, but nevertheless is expressive of the vulnerability that is revealed in matters of the heart. S.R.B.

“Poinsetta, Holly and Pine” drawn and painted with ink and watercolor by Sandy Ross Bender

I know the way

” I know the way” painted with acrylics on canvas board by Sanford Ross Bender In June, 2001.
“I know the way” composed, performed, and recorded with concertina and guitar (rearranged without mandolin) by Sanford Ross Bender on September 17, 2022

I just uploaded the original version of “I know the way” prior to having added the mandolin part posted last week. At that time, I had decided to let the mandolin part become more prominent. The guitar and concertina parts threaded in and out from the background with only intermittent assertions in accompaniment. Such richness of barely heard voices are revealed when a single dominating presence sifts into silence! SRB

“I know the way” composed, performed, and recorded with mandolin, concertina, and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on September 11, 2022

Dirge

The next morning, I added a clarinet part to the composition while imagining another musician in the sombre parade. I also realized that the independent concertina and guitar parts needed to be separated.. The lower wind-blown tones of the clarinet blends with the higher tones emitted through the concertina’s bellows while interweaving with the resonant dobro bass line. The guitar part in the reprise provides hope and renewal. S.R. Bender

“Raven” drawn with charcoal pencil by Sanford R. Bender
“Dirge” composed and performed with concertina, dobro, guitar, and clarinet by Sanford R. Bender on July 24, 2022