And we play on

for my friend, Clarinetist Eric Mandat.And our years of performing our Blues Poetry duet.

And we play on

 

 

listen softly

to the harsh verse

as the clarinet's tones

accost your senses

 

the ruckus 

like an apparent duel

they fight,

they settle

 

the notes fade grimly

a nod

a goodbye

 

applause

then 

perfect silence.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

6/24/23

Reviews

[Andrew John]

The end of applause can make a silence so, well, silent. I can see the idea of playing on. Thanks, J.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

He is quite the clarinetist.
thank you, Andrew,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

My grandson Ethan played the Base Clarinet in his High School Band. We went to all his Concerts and still the Melodies play in Dreams… especially the Patriotic Overtures… as the Drums beat slowly… into the future happenings as the Conductor waves his Wand. Skillfully, Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it is an amazing instrument...Eric is a reknowned clarinetist...our duets are fun...
j.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Blues and jazz both seem a fitting companion to the flights of poetry. Poetry reading is a slam, so this is a grand slam?

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Winston...

[Relic]

I was listening to Kerouac and steve allan before I wrote Gabriel. He's got an album out with sax too. Being a drummer for the past 50 years I'm familiar with that silence.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I wanted to be a drummer when I was younger...I got to play one time to R.E.M's "Losing my Religion"----
I got lucky and kept the beat....but never got to play again.
Thanks for that memory.
j.

[John the Baptist]

That must have been quite a duet. Sounds almost like a squabble between the clarinet and the poet, but they break it off, followed by applause and silence. Like with all other things, the silence reigns in the end.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sometimes when we do certain pieces, it is like we are competing with each other....voice and clarinet sounds...fun.
j.

[Maria E. Mendez]

So you are musician too? There must be no end to your creative talents. But I think many who are creative are not confined to one art or expression. I wonder have you lost your friend. If so, I am sad for you. I liked reading this. MM

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I just performed with him a few weeks ago...He is very much alive, just wrote this as a tribute to him and the time he takes out of his busy schedule to do the duets with me.....I read, he plays...I have no talent at all to play any instruments...wish I did.

[Maria E. Mendez]

So nice to know your friend is still with you. I play the maracas but I think anyone can do that. My uncle plays guitar.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear J, this is a fine tribute to Eric and the years you have performed together. Clarinet is so expressive, as is your poetry. I can imagine the moods you create together. Would love to be sitting in the audience. After listening to him on sound cloud, I have a real picture in my head of the two of you and how you duet. Both of you masters in your own field. What a treat for your audience.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Chris....I appreciate him taking time outs to perform with me...he is wonderful.
j.

[M]

Spoken poetry with a clarinet accompaniment is certainly a unique combination but a successful one if applause follows with a perfect silence. I can certainly sense a duel between the words spoken and the sound of the clarinet. I like the contrasts you have written here between the supposed harsh words and the smooth sounds of the instrument. You may be underselling those words since a grateful audience would never lie. A lovely dedication, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you so much for your kind words, Makhabat.
j.

[Lorry]

Where does any piece of music end Jacob? Is it the final note, the applause, or when it is no longer remembered by anyone?
I think that each have their own take on it and I choose to think that as long as the memory of how it made you feel is alive, then so is the music. I've always loved the buzz you get after leaving a concert, where the musicians have played well and brightened your being, where you feel the warmth of the music from within and the crowd dissipating slowly, leaving you in silent contemplation, where the feeling of the memories are born.
I still remember the feelings of joy and happiness when musicians, instruments and the crowd all come together and share such unique and one of a kind events, whether world famous or an unexpected bonus of stumbling on to something new.
Sorry for the loss you felt deeply enough to write such a perfect homage to your friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind words, Lorry,
j.

[Patricia]

writing interpretations of music is very personal and I can see from this you truly felt the piece. Everyone gets something different from a piece as do they in poetry but here there is no mistake in your heartfelt response to the music that would make anyone understand it had they heard the piece. I really enjoyed this.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your really kind review, Patricia,
j.