Minstrel Banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

John Diamond Walk Around from the Phil Rice book of 1858.

Views: 146

Comment by Paul Draper on October 22, 2012 at 12:26pm

Mark's recent posting of this piece inspired me to learn it.  It's still very new in my fingers and the timing  is hard to keep straight.  I took the the 3rd and 6th measures from the Carlin recording on the Minstrel Banjo Style CD.

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 22, 2012 at 12:39pm

Are you trying to read the written timing, or is this a creative arrangement?

Comment by Paul Draper on October 22, 2012 at 1:04pm

When all else fails, kinda "creative"....

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 22, 2012 at 1:09pm

It sounds good...it shows the looseness within these tunes to make something original out them, taking liberties with what's written.

Comment by Paul Draper on October 22, 2012 at 1:21pm

Thanks.  In truth, not so "original" with me -- I had Carlin's recording to work from (more or less).  I don't know how well I parroted that, but that was the rhythm in my head.  As I still have trouble reading timing, I was not aware that this was so far off from what's written.  Yikes!

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 22, 2012 at 1:38pm

Yes, I know that. I am familiar with his arrangements. "Phil Rice Excelsior Jig".....sounds so good the way he did it. But a far cray from the intended "Jim Crow Jig", which ironically was published later. Obviously the tune has some early DNA....never found the hornpipe or whatever it came from...but I'm sure it is out there.

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 22, 2012 at 1:42pm

A side note....it shows us the power or oral transmission. Take for example "Grape Vine Twist"...very few people play it as written. Who started it???? I think it was Bob Flesher....(doing straight eighth notes instead of dotted for the second part of the phrase.)

 

Comment by Paul Draper on October 22, 2012 at 1:52pm

Tim, I don't understand.  Why do you say the "Excelsior Jig" was intended to be "Jim Crow Jig"?  The first is without the dotted notes, and the second is with the dotted notes, right?

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 22, 2012 at 1:52pm

Yea..same tune.

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 22, 2012 at 1:54pm

I'm not saying it was intended to be either. I am saying, there must be some root tune from which this melody and 2 titles came from.

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