November 6, 2024. One night several years ago, while in New Orleans for a conference, I was walking down Royal Street toward my hotel and heard music down the block. Two musicians were playing in a doorway on a corner. The song they were playing was Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and, even though it is a perhaps overused piece of music (apparently even Leonard Cohen thought so), it is still beautiful and haunting and splendid. On that night, I was going through some challenges back home and my dad was in the last six months of his life. The calming music stopped me in my tracks and sustained me for a while. I stayed and listened until a street parade and second line passed, the duo stopped playing, and the crowd dispersed.
The musicians were Tanya and Dorise. Dorise Blackmon, from New Orleans, was the guitarist and Tanya Huang, from Taiwan, was the violinist. They were regulars in the Quarter for fifteen years, announcing their retirement from busking in 2017. Fortunately, videos of their performances can be found online and they left some recordings that can still be purchased. I like to listen to them when I need a calming break.
The music ranges from classical to jazz to standards to pop and rock. Pachelbel, U2, Led Zeppelin, “Amazing Grace,” and “I Will Survive” are in the mix. You can find Tanya and Dorise’s performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” online; that one becomes a raucous and joyous singalong. I distinctly remember them covering “Smells Like Teen Spirit” when I was there. Whenever I watch them, I am struck by Tanya’s intense concentration, despite the boisterous chatter of passing crowds or police sirens down the block. Dorise is equally concentrated on the music, but with a clear eye on the crowd, ready to intercept any disturbance that might hinder the performance. One can see people walking down the street who suddenly stop and listen, enrapt, as I was those years ago by the unsuspected interlude and its contrast with the chaos just up the street.
I learned recently that Dorise passed away in 2023.
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This morning, I woke up thinking about Tanya and Dorise’s performance of “Hallelujah” that night on Royal Street. I needed the peace and calm I knew such thoughts would bring. And the memories. I have tried to stay calm about yesterday’s election and stay hopeful, but I am heartbroken and scared. I have seen people get passionate about this election who have mostly ignored elections in the past. I have watched friendships dissolve. I have listened in dismay as people I used to respect repeat nonsense they’ve heard from an ill-bred compulsive liar, insurrectionist, and convicted felon. Election Day is past and the trauma and the threat remain; insurrectionists gotta insurrect, I reckon. I am ashamed for my country and its amnesia. I reach for a bright spot and cling to the fact that one more Alabama congressional district was flipped by the Democrats last night. Even so, I wonder if our country will be worth saving in four years.
I mostly keep quiet and watch. As I was working toward my political theory degree way back during Watergate, my major professor urged us not to follow American politics: “It will completely distort your understanding of the theory and the process,” he smirked. But it’s hard not to rubberneck at a wreck.
I hope you will take a few quiet minutes to hear Tanya and Dorise. By the way, Dorise’s shirt says “Stop Bitchin’, Start a Revolution!” Amen and hallelujah.
Professional Southerner 