Minstrel Banjo - For enthusiasts of early banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

A resource and gathering site for people interested in playing and constructing early banjos, and the history of minstrel music in America.

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Videos

Green Fields Of America

Added by Tim Twiss
Vespers

Added by John Masciale
Brannigan's Reel

Added by Tim Twiss

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Latest Activity

John Masciale replied to Weiss5's discussion 'Minstrel Hymns and Gospel songs'

Had too much fun today in Church... Played my Minstrel banjo on "I'll Fly Away", and bones on "Victory Chant".

yesterday

Weiss5 added 3 photos

yesterday

Tim Twiss added 2 discussions

on Saturday

John Masciale replied to Weiss5's discussion 'String recomendations?'

I use the Aquila NylGut Minstrel strings on my gourd and am happy with them. I still prefer gut, but these are more affordable.

on Saturday

Weiss5 added a discussion

String recomendations?

I have just finished my gourd banjo and was wondering what strings people are using. What do you think of the Aquila Minstrels?

on Saturday

Tim Twiss added a video

Green Fiels Of America

Thanks for the ear Eric. I would not have made that connection with a visual survey. It's still a stretch, but I can hear it.

on Saturday

John Masciale commented on John Masciale's video 'Vespers'

Thought I'd add one more thing for the campfire... Vespers.TIF

on Saturday

John Masciale added a video

Vespers

Abide With Me, The Old 100th/Doxology

on Saturday

Ian Bell replied to Tim Twiss's discussion 'Expanding The Repertiore'

You may have already discovered 79 to 85 in Coles 1000 Fiddle Tunes (aka Ryan's Mammoth Collection) They're all "jigs" in the minstrel sense of the term. Some attributed to Emmett and Christie There's a sensational one called Jersey Lightning that...

on Saturday

Trapdoor2 commented on Tim Twiss's video 'Brannigan's Reel'

Glad you spotted that, Ian. I would have been going crazy trying to put a name to that familiar tune. I used to play "Greenfields of America" when I was messing about with the Irish Tenor Banjo.

on Saturday

Ian Bell commented on Tim Twiss's video 'Brannigan's Reel'

That tunes shares a lot of musical DNA with the Irish reel "Greenfields of America", which was/is in many of the old fiddle books including Cole 1000 Fiddle Tunes (aka Ryan's)

on Friday

Tim Twiss added a video

Brannigan's Reel

This tune, played on my Moscella Gourd Banjo, was taken from the Converse Analytical Method of 1886. Source material-unknown at this time.

on Friday

John Masciale replied to John Campopiano's discussion 'Polk Miller: An Unlikely African-American Music Historian'

Thanks for posting this! I really enjoyed the article and music.

on Thursday

Ian Bell replied to Ian Bell's discussion 'Uncle Dave Macon'

Thanks for that link. I always wondered how Leroy Troy learned more Uncle Dave gymnastics than were ever captured on any film I'd ever seen. You're right about memory. Over the years I've spent a lot of time hanging out with and playing with what ...

on Wednesday

John Campopiano added a discussion

Polk Miller: An Unlikely African-American Music Historian

A fantastic article! I've loved these recordings for a while and was happy to see NPR covering them! I hope you all enjoy this read... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120398673&ps=bb1 John

on Wednesday

Tim Twiss replied to Tim Twiss's discussion 'Frank Converse'

I stuck a few more up. I hope you all don't mind...I just like playing these tunes. That sweet Moschella Tacky I am playing on "John Anderson" might be up for sale. Contact me offline if you are interested.

November 17

Tim Twiss added 3 videos

November 17

Tim Twiss added a discussion

Frank Converse

F.B. Converse more than almost anybody else, witnessed a huge cycle in the evolution of the banjo and contributed a vast amount of material. I put up in the video section a few from the "Green" book of 1865...these are a few of his real straight a...

November 17

Tim Twiss commented on Tim Twiss's photo 'Titania's Favorite Polka'