h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Humbly, I submit an entry of my own device, about one of the more unique instruments on the planet. I hope you like it.

http://www.h2g2.com/A438725

Certainly do.

I don't think you could be more comprehehnsive if you tried! This definitely deserves a place in the edited guide.

A couple of small points: you refer to "the Mummers" a couple of times. Is this an established group or some kind of musical movement ? Also, you might need to add a foot-note regarding the Sirens. Not everyone will understand the reference.

Good entry.

MDS

This is a good article and certainly deserves a place in the Edited Guide. Also send a note to Fragilis at the Musicians' Guild. She will put it on the index of musical entries whether it is accepted or not.

Thanks, you two.

The word "Mummers," incidentally, refers sort of to a musical style, and also to the people who play that style. It's a grotesque hybrid of a banjo orchestra and a marching band. I encountered the Mummers only once, on a summer night when a bunch of them were playing in a gazebo in a small town in New Jersey. They played things by John Philip Souza. They played "Be Kind to Your Web-Footed Friends." On the lawn around the gazebo, old people sat in plastic lawn chairs. I felt awkward and out of place at the time, but in retrospect, I'm glad I saw it and glad I know what the Mummers are all about.

I was thinking of including a footnote about them, but then I thought that I don't want to use the Mummers to illustrate what banjo music is like: in the Mummers, the banjos are just this din in the background, nicely drowned out by the horns, woodwinds, glockenspiel, and percussion. Also, the Mummers are probably the most obscure use of the banjo around these days--the other uses of the banjo described are much more prevalent.

Anyway, thanks again.

I think that the siren sentence is very funny! I would include that (albeit brief) footnote about the mummers mentioned earlier. Apart from that - groovy!

- Adam

Good news! This entry has been submitted to the Editors and they have given it a resounding thumbs up.

Congratulations!

It will now go forward to become a part of the edited guide. It may be a little while before it appears on the front page, of course, but it will get there soon enough. An e-mail will be sent out nearer the time to let you know.

Well done!

MDS

Aw, shucks. Thanks.

Dr. F.

Editorial Note: This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review forum because this entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

If they haven't been along already, the Scout who recommended your entry will post here soon, to let you know what happens next.

Congratulations!