For enthusiasts of early banjo

Minstrel in the Banjo Era

Event Details

Time: December 6, 2010 from 11am to 12pm
Location: Boston Museum of Fine Art
City/Town: Boston, MA
Website or Map: http://465 Huntington Avenue…
Event Type: lecture
Organized By: Boston Museum of Fine Art
Latest Activity: Dec 7, 2010

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Event Description

Updated Nov 18: This lecture has totally disappeared from the MFA web site, but according to Bob Kilham (who is playing the banjo during the lecture) the event is still on!

I just heard about this - a few months in advance instead of 2 days after for once! Here's the description from the MFA web site:

Noted banjo historian Jim Bollman and Vermont musician Bob Kilham discuss the early history of the banjo in America, from its origins as an instrument created and played by African slaves to its full-blown popularity in minstrel shows prior to the Civil War. Bollman uses instruments from his collection to illustrate the banjo’s evolving design, and three important examples from the MFA’s collection are demonstrated by Kilham.

Lecture-Demonstrations are supported by a generous grant from the MFA Senior Associates.

Free with Museum admission.

Comment Wall

Comment by R.D. Eno on October 1, 2010 at 4:39pm: Another Vermonter coming down from the hills for this event. I look forward to conspiring up with the usual suspects.

Comment by Brian Welch on November 18, 2010 at 9:38am: I just looked all over the MFA website and I do not see this event listed anywhere. I think it may have been cancelled, which totally bums me out. Does anyone know otherwise?

Comment by Andy Chase on November 18, 2010 at 9:50am: Argh, how very disappointing. I just submitted an email via the website asking if it has indeed been cancelled... I'll follow up here.

Comment by Brian Welch on November 21, 2010 at 2:21pm: According to Bob Kilham (who is playing the banjo during the lecture) the event is still ON, it just isn't on the MFA website. I will be there!

Comment by Greg Adams on November 22, 2010 at 7:16am: Wish I could be there! If you go, tell Jim and Bob I said hello!

Comment by Andy Chase on December 6, 2010 at 11:05am: Well, so much for advance notice - I'm not going to be able to make it. Have fun, those who do!

Comment by R.D. Eno on December 6, 2010 at 11:19am: Lousy weather and uncertainty over whether the event would actually take place has kept me away. So sorry! I'd be planning to come down for the last month. Apologies to Jim and Bob, and I hope you had a good turn-out without me.

Comment by Moschella Banjos on December 6, 2010 at 1:46pm: this was a lot of fun. it was definitely intended largely as an introductory lecture, so i would assume that most of those who couldn't make it, and who are posting here, didn't necessarily miss anything in terms of learning new information about he banjo. still, jim and bob were really engaging, the music was great, and the instruments were what you'd expect: amazing.

Comment by Brian Welch on December 7, 2010 at 8:29am: That was the best use of a personal day in a long time. Great to see Jay and especially wonderful to see that Ashborn banjo. Having lunch with Jim and Bob and Ed Britt after was a bonus! John C. left before I got to say hello to him and I kept looking for Andy but see now that he wasn't there. Gonna have to do that again soon.