(2 of 4)
ARTHUR ZEIKEL
New York City
Sir:
That was the only folk-account I ever read that was fair to everybody—even the Kingston Trio.
Except you left out the New Christy Minstrels, the newest thing in folk music: the sing-along folk group.
JUDY MOLL
Sausalito, Calif.
Sir:
When I was a student at Columbia University in 1941, I had the good fortune to hear the Louisiana ex-convict Leadbelly sing at a private party.
The most unique performance came when he laid down his twelve-string guitar and did what he called "hollers," primitive, soul-searching melancholy songs.
BURKE McGiNTY Terrell, Texas
Sir:
I am extremely thrilled that you printed my song in your folk singing article. I love music and Joan Baez.
Copper Kettle was written in 1953 as part of my opera Go Lightly Stranger.
A. F. BEDDOE
Staten Island, N.Y.
Sir:
Your fleeting reference to bluegrass music cries out for amplification. Bluegrass is not a "polite synonym for hillbilly." It is a highly intricate derivative of the folk and jazz idioms. Both the term and the music itself received their major impetus from Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys. A bluegrass musician is an accomplished and versatile soloist who is capable of achieving a very delicate balance between story and music. Only stringed instruments are used, and these are nonelectrified and unamplified (as opposed to hillbilly music).
BILL CLIFTON
Charlottesville, Va.
Sir:
Folk music strikes a responsive chord in people because it reflects life in basic human terms and with powerful, poetic truth. Even its war songs, both anti-war and battle sagas, are expressed in poignant, personal terms.
Long after the popular fad of commercial treatment of folk songs for profit has died, the songs will continue to live and flourish.
RITA WEILL
Los Angeles
Nixon & Hiss
Sir:
In my opinion, your harsh treatment of ABC Newsman Howard K. Smith was most unfair [Nov. 23]. Not only do you add your dubious voice to the critics of his controversial program, but you disparage Mr. Smith's entire television effort.
Of all public affairs programs presented, Mr. Smith's is the most valuable, most topical, and most thoughtprovoking.
JOHN R. WILLIAMS
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Nixon was serving his country when he brought out evidence against Hiss. It is contemptible to permit someone like Hiss, who was serving another country against all of our interests, to utter his thoughts about our former public servant.
(MRS.) LAURA BAILEY
Pittstown, N.J.
Sir:
I am glad to see that ABC has taken the great step forward and is giving the TV audience a chance to hear the opinions of great world figures.
But why stop there? Why not produce an historical dramatization with a similar format? Then we could all hear John Wilkes Booth talk on Lincoln, Adolf Hitler talk on Churchill, and Al Capone talk on Ness.
ROBERT BROOK JR.
Trenton, N.J.
The Penance Corps
Sir: