For enthusiasts of early banjo

Harpers Ferry Violin, Bones, and Banjo Workshop Weekend

Event Details

Time: November 12, 2011 to November 13, 2011
Location: Harpers Ferry, WV (at the refurbished train station)
City/Town: Harpers Ferry, WV
Phone: 304‐535‐6063
Event Type: workshop/educational, event
Organized By: Greg Adams and NPS Ranger, Melinda Day
Latest Activity: Nov 15, 2011

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Event Description

This is the second in a series of workshops designed to bring together specialists, musicians, and interested individuals to discuss, explore, and play 19th century American popular music. The November 2011 event features three notable musical instruments in American popular culture in the 19th century—the violin/fiddle, rhythm bones (bone castanets), and 5string banjo. Now in the 21st century, each instrument holds an iconic status in different revival and traditional music scenes, including bluegrass, oldtime, Irish session music, Civil War reenacting, and living history circles. Become part of a growing community that inclusively seeks to understand how 19th century music reflects America’s diverse musical heritage and relates to our performances in the present. Workshops will include discussions about context, explorations of historical music and material culture, and tutorial sessions about period techniques and performance practice. Banjo scholar Greg C. Adams, bones player and multi-instrumentalist Rowan Corbett, and violinist/collector Chuck Krepley invite you to experience what makes 19th century performance practice similar to, but distinct from popular 21st century playing techniques.

Comment Wall

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 4, 2011 at 6:27am: This will be a great event to attend. Anybody within a day's drive should certainly check this out. I hope to hear a summary of it at some point, as well as participant's reactions and responses.

Comment by Carl Anderton on October 5, 2011 at 5:43am: Anybody within two days drive should go to this, too, if they have any vacation time left. Spending banjo time with Greg Adams will more than justify the drive.

Comment by Jeff Trace on October 5, 2011 at 10:37pm: Hey Greg:

I just sent my info to Melinda. I can't wait to seeyou guys! Sounds like alot of fun!!

Jeff Trace

Comment by Greg Adams on October 6, 2011 at 8:45pm: Great, Jeff! I'm glad that you contacted Mel! I think we're closing in on our 20 registered participants!

Comment by Brian Glass on November 13, 2011 at 8:47am: Sunday morning at Harpers and so far this has been a fantastic event. So great to get together with theses guys and hone my minstrel skills. Looking forward to today's activities!

Comment by Cory Rosenberg on November 13, 2011 at 7:13pm: What a thrill this weekend was. The ensemble work...the individual mentoring sessions... the location! All we kept saying was how we hadn't had so much fun in ages. Thanks again to the organizers and the participants, we made outstanding music together!

Comment by Carl Anderton on November 14, 2011 at 6:42am: Wish I could have been there. Guess I'll see most of you in about 7 months, though.

Comment by Paul Draper on November 14, 2011 at 9:04am: Yes indeed! The Harpers Ferry banjo, bones and fiddle weekend was fantastic! It was great to meet so many musicians and make music together. Thanks again to Greg and Melinda for organizing this. Time to take this show on the road...

Comment by Jeff Trace on November 14, 2011 at 2:21pm: I learned so much and had so much fun, it was hard to leave!! Many thanks to Greg and Melinda and all the participants for making this a weekend to remember!!!

Comment by James Hartel on November 15, 2011 at 10:12am: It was a wonderful event in the glory of late Autumn at Harper's Ferry. Thanks to the concise organization of Melinda and Greg and the enthusiastic participation of all envolved, I think I finally have a handle on the bones. I posted some images and hope that others post some media from the Sunday afternoon concert. I had to leave early on the long trip home and missed that final part of the program.