For Sidney Bechet
For Sidney Bechet - meaning Summary
Jazz Reshapes Imagined City
Larkin presents Sidney Bechet’s playing as the force that conjures an imagined New Orleans: a shimmering, romanticized Quarter of balconies, lovers, and spectacle. The music both creates comforting falsehoods and exposes them as communal myth, while personally transporting the speaker into a place where the musician’s sound is naturally understood. Ultimately the tune dissolves melancholy and contrived pity, offering an affirmative, almost physical consolation.
Read Complete AnalysesThat note you hold, narrowing and rising, shakes Like New Orleans reflected on the water, And in all ears appropriate falsehood wakes, Building for some a legendary Quarter Of balconies, flower-baskets and quadrilles, Everyone making love and going shares-- Oh, play that thing! Mute glorious Storyvilles Others may license, grouping around their chairs Sporting-house girls like circus tigers (priced Far above rubies) to pretend their fads, While scholars manqués nod around unnoticed Wrapped up in personnels like old plaids. On me your voice falls as they say love should, Like an enormous yes. My Crescent City Is where your speech alone is understood, And greeted as the natural noise of good, Scattering long-haired grief and scored pity.
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