Minstrel Banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

From Rice 1858...with a click to keep the crazy placement of the beat.

Views: 368

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 29, 2012 at 8:32am

Dang..I wish that Levy site would get straightened out. So curious for a better look at Uncle Gabriel now.

 

Comment by Al Smitley on October 29, 2012 at 8:51am

The Levy site often goes through that.  I don't understand why. 

By now, I have accepted that I just have to wait it out.

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 30, 2012 at 8:50pm

That link to Uncle Gabriel is good now....compare to Rice "Sandy Boy".

http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/levy-cgi/display.cgi?id=020.184.0...

Comment by Strumelia on October 30, 2012 at 9:11pm

Thanks Tim, got it!

The 1847 Ethiopian Serenaders version is perfectly straight, just like Sandy Boy(s) is played today.  No weird rhythm gymnastics.  And all the pick up notes are 'in the place where the notes oughta be'.    ;)

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 31, 2012 at 9:03am
Yes. This might be a good spot to look at some of these tunes, especially in Rice. Think about what he doing with the original tune....he goofs on the titles a bit. See "Go way Jenny" which is Jenny Get Yer Hoecake". "Mr. Brown" is Nebber Do To Gib It Up So". He certainly changed the original tune....unlike the Briggs' book with a bumditty treatment to most. Was this the first of "Sandy Boy" variants on Uncle Gabriel?
Comment by Strumelia on October 31, 2012 at 9:44am

I don't know.  But I'm still thinking the odd treatment of pickup notes in Rice's later staffs (not in the first line though) is due to inadequacies of the notating process rather than intentionally changing the rhythm.  It just sounds too damned awkward and unmusical to me, coupled with the fact that I see this exact same pickup note 'mistake' so often in standard notation.  It happens so regularly with pickup notes in fact, that many folks feel it's implied to be played the correct way, as you said about that other issue.  Frankly, notating pickup notes the correct way is a pain in the butt and takes up more lines of staff, and adds 1st and 2nd endings, and space does seem to be a factor in these old tutor books.  That's just my own opinion, worth 2 cents.  :)

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 31, 2012 at 10:22am

It just seems so intentional.....this fellow was obvioulsy skilled enough to notate exactly what he was thinking. I'll go with your direction of thought Stummelia, but I don't want to discount the idea that it was a purposeful arrangement. I hate to explain away that which is strange to us......just to make it fit what we want to.

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 31, 2012 at 11:06am

I just re recorded the tune. When I listen to it without a foot tap or a click, the listener puts the beat in a different place....funny. It is like an audio optical illusion. This is not the only tune in the book like this. I so enjoy Rice 1858.

Comment by Bell Banjos on October 31, 2012 at 11:24am

It's an Irish thing. Dig up notation for Swallowtail Jig  -  same thing.

Comment by Tim Twiss on October 31, 2012 at 12:24pm

I just looked at / played Swallowtail. I don't understand the connection you are making. This is a straight forward 6 /8 thing...no doubt where it is.

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