Verbena Waltz

Comment by Al Smitley on February 23, 2014 at 7:02am

Just out of curiosity, I found that there is a Verbena in Virginia and Alabama.  I looked for a "Magdalena O'Brien" in Ancestry and couldn't come up with much that would fit the pub. date.

Comment by Bob Sayers on February 23, 2014 at 2:32pm

I did the same thing, Al, hoping that "Miss Magdalena O'Brien" would bring us a little closer to Boucher.  So far, I haven't found anything pertinent.   

Pardon my ignorance, but are there any waltzes for minstrel banjo?  As much as I'd love to see one of you folks translate this score for the banjo (maybe rename it "Boucher's Waltz"), I wonder if that's practicable.  Bob 

Comment by Mark Weems on February 23, 2014 at 4:36pm

Yes, Bob, there are several waltzes scattered throughout the tutors. Nothing unusual for early banjo style, more challenging for bum-ditty clawhammerists.

Comment by Al Smitley on February 23, 2014 at 4:43pm

Yes, as Mark says, they are in the tutors and, of course, were very popular in that period sheet music....and often work well on the banjo.  Personally, I wish a little more emphasis was given to waltzes but they often seem to be overlooked.

Comment by Joel Hooks on February 24, 2014 at 7:06am

I just gave it a quick run through and read it as if the it were "English" notation (bass to C).

A fairly typical waltz, kinda' boring.  First strain sounds like "Hush Little Baby."

Comment by Bob Sayers on February 24, 2014 at 10:02pm

So I guess Boucher won't be remembered as the "waltz king."  But he made pretty nice banjos! 

Comment by Tim Twiss on February 25, 2014 at 10:40am

I thought it was okay, but like Joel said....pretty typical. Want to hear it anyway? Not too much different than any other waltz we find in the "canon".

Comment by Bob Sayers on February 25, 2014 at 11:29am

Tim, yes please!  

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