Band haiku

Last week, I – with love, mind you – realized that a perfect last line for a haiku would be:

Why bother?  It’s band.

Again, I thought this with love.  And like just about anything else that comes to mind, I posted it on Facebook, adding “now I just need the first two lines. I’m pretty sure one of them mentions tuning a harp.”

Here are some of the responses to the challenge.  Between my original Facebook account and my new one, there were 77 responses. Most surprising thing: most people still know the syllabic requirements of a haiku.

The harp’s in the case.
Is it in tune? Do we know?
Why bother? It’s band.

– David Rakowski

The C extension.
Does your double bass have it?
Why bother? It’s band.

– David Rakowski

david rakowski
writes top-notch band haikus, but —
why bother? it’s band.

– Carl Schimmel

Some integrity
Or artistic posturing?
Why bother? It’s band.

– Ken Thompson

Finally, first chair –
A contrabass player’s dream!
Why bother? It’s band.

– Rob Deemer

I wrote a harp part.
Fortissimo with trombones.
Why bother, it’s band.

– Jim Stephenson

B-flat clarinets; my ears bleed sweet suicide. Why bother? It’s band.
– Michael Markowski

At night rehearsal
I forgot deodorant!
Why bother? It’s band.

– Rebecca Anderson

Oboe out of tune;
Quick, the harpist needs a ride;
Why bother? It’s band.

– Robert Sloan

The French horn can play
Just as low as the bassoon?
Why bother? It’s band.

– Brian Brown

“I think I would like
some subtlety”, said Maestro.
Why bother? It’s band.

– Jim Stephenson

It’s a Powell flute!
The sound … is like gossamer.
Why bother? It’s band.

– David Rakowski

standing at beer case,
pondering buying the Harp,
Why bother? It’s band.

– Lois Hicks-Wozniak

Times music critic:
“President’s Own? Carnegie?
Why bother? It’s band.”

– Scott McKenzie

and finally…

Composing for hours.
Music is going nowhere.
Wrote haiku instead.

– Brian Balmages

Comments

jared says

Waste life reading blog,
Percussion Concerto's cool,
Good times had by all.

Michael Schelle says

Why NOT Fisher Tull.
Rarely mentioned anymore.
Why bother. It's band.

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