Expanding the Early Banjo Repertoire

[Tim Twiss]

I would like to discuss and explore the role of fiddle music as it relates to the banjo.  This first tune comes from the scarey "back of the Buckley" book. It turns out to be an exact transcription of a fiddle tune, as seen in Ryan's Mammoth Collection. Because it appeared in a banjo book, that makes it a "banjo tune"...right? This tune is one that just happens to work out, and bore no special arranging by anybody. Arrangements will have some fingering indications, as well as the flagged thumb string. See "Phil Isaac's Jig".

[Tim Twiss]

So here is a fiddle tune found in Ryan's Mammoth Collection called Lincoln's Hornpipe. Attached is the original from Ryan's, and then an arrangement by me. The arrangement, in this case, does not change any notes. It does, however, search for the banjo characteristic and places thumb string notes, fingerings, and phrase markings in a way that makes it really banjo friendly. This tune is a challenge, but very playable, and an addition to our expanding repertoire.