Minstrel Banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

For those who have never heard this record here is a taster. This is part of the lead track from Joe Ayers classic 1989 recording of the Melodies of Dan Emmett and the Virginia Minstrels 1843-1860, scheduled to be re-released ...

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Comment by Tim Twiss on February 17, 2015 at 2:55pm

Love the feel...the drive and pulse of this one. Certainly sets a great standard.

Comment by Tim Twiss on February 17, 2015 at 3:26pm

I am glad this stuff will resurface. He is a prime mover for all this. I digitized mine a while ago, but I would buy another out or respect and support of economy.

Comment by Christopher Stetson on February 22, 2015 at 2:29pm

Would love to hear more.  I was just looking at Dan Tucker last night.  I was surprised at the line "pumped so hard I broke the sucker" in 1841 though I'm sure many here know it.  I was actually working from an arrangement for guitar and voice by Philip Ernst, a publisher and musician from New York (he actually was principal flute of the N.Y. Philharmonic according to my information), clearly intended for parlor performance.  I find myself wondering in what context this version would have been performed.  Also, I was looking at it as a possible source for a performance of the abolitionist anthem "Get Off the Track", sung to the tune.  This song had legs.  Obviously an irony to us, I wonder if it was to them?   If the singer agrees, I'll try to post a video.

Comment by CURTIS PAYNE on March 14, 2015 at 6:05pm

How do I get a CD?

Comment by Mark Weems on March 14, 2015 at 6:38pm
Comment by Roberta Perkins on March 20, 2015 at 2:47pm

Chris: Would you tell me more about "Get Off the Track". You say it is an abolitionist anthem? Do you have music for it? 

Comment by Roberta Perkins on March 20, 2015 at 2:51pm

Mark: Do you have a couple more tasters? Like Tim said, I too like the drive and feel of Old Dan Tucker. I liked that I can hear the words; that is important to me...

Comment by Al Smitley on March 20, 2015 at 3:13pm

Comment by Al Smitley on March 20, 2015 at 3:15pm

Here are the verses to "Get Off The Track".  As the image states, you can get the original music from the Lester Levy site.

http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/

Comment by Christopher Stetson on March 20, 2015 at 3:32pm

Hi, Roberta and all.  Al beat me to it, but I found it here:

http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/abolitn/absowwba24t.html

If you're interested, the link to the whole book is here:  

http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/abolitn/absowwbahp.html

My statement that it's an "Abolitionist anthem" comes directly from this article:  

http://www.voanews.com/content/songs-against-slavery-tool-for-aboli...

I haven't vetted the research behind it, so can't vouch for the reliability of the information.

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