I knew Ken Burns was good, and I love music but Country Music did not particularly entice my interest. Sure, I was a Deadhead, I certainly enjoyed a range of country and folk, but somehow an 8 part series just was not a priority given the alternatives, at the time. Somehow I found myself in Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (1968 - 1972), maybe a half an hour into the episode. Peter Coyote, more than any other voice of intellectual authority grabs my attention. Its a Ken Burns hallmark to work with the best in his collaborative documentary genius, and Coyote is a deeply moving soul, who in somewhat understated and mild mannered form, conjures deeply moving sentiment true to even the most passionate connoisseurs of the topic that he narrates. So, even though I never really thought I cared about Country Music I am reminded that I do.
Dayton Duncan's writing, with Ken Burn's skill of finding candor from artists in succinctly concise, and emotionally on key fashion works so well with the musical retrospective of all that country music you forgot you loved. This film brought back happy memories of the past where these songs inhabit the tapestry of those days. Nearly forgotten, I now fondly recollected songs that had once filled the air never even thinking that was Country Music.
There are occasionally exceptional moments in my film experience, and here that really stands out in my mind; in ways I am hardly able to articulate - but I'll try.
The passage elucidated Kris Kristofferson's lyrical prowess by his Nashville contemporaries Larry Gatlin and Charlie Pride. Their infectious enthusiasm as devoted fans of his poetic verse . Fellow country music artists with musical experience, vocabulary and expertise. Their genuine astonishment with Kristofferson's passion and song was an epiphany. A moment of sublime film making, albeit a documentary. I now understand how music and poetry subtly intertwine - gracefully and elusively - music worthy serious attention. I wish I could learn to appreciate Shakespeare or other literature as much. as Larry Gatlin's and Charlie Pride's inspiring interpretations of Kristofferson music and verse, in this documentary Burns!
Dayton Duncan's writing, with Ken Burn's skill of finding candor from artists in succinctly concise, and emotionally on key fashion works so well with the musical retrospective of all that country music you forgot you loved. This film brought back happy memories of the past where these songs inhabit the tapestry of those days. Nearly forgotten, I now fondly recollected songs that had once filled the air never even thinking that was Country Music.
There are occasionally exceptional moments in my film experience, and here that really stands out in my mind; in ways I am hardly able to articulate - but I'll try.
The passage elucidated Kris Kristofferson's lyrical prowess by his Nashville contemporaries Larry Gatlin and Charlie Pride. Their infectious enthusiasm as devoted fans of his poetic verse . Fellow country music artists with musical experience, vocabulary and expertise. Their genuine astonishment with Kristofferson's passion and song was an epiphany. A moment of sublime film making, albeit a documentary. I now understand how music and poetry subtly intertwine - gracefully and elusively - music worthy serious attention. I wish I could learn to appreciate Shakespeare or other literature as much. as Larry Gatlin's and Charlie Pride's inspiring interpretations of Kristofferson music and verse, in this documentary Burns!
