The Vanderbilt Quckstep.wmv

Comment by Ian Bell on March 2, 2011 at 9:08pm

Yowzah - what a piece of business. We've never seen you make those faces before.  I took a look at the sheet music and my eyes glazed over pretty much instantly. Thanks for taking one for the team!

Comment by Tim Twiss on March 2, 2011 at 9:17pm

Enuff time on that one. I'll be back with a fretted...someday. Anybody know anything about a Luscomb banjo?

Comment by Ian Bell on March 3, 2011 at 7:51am

Banjo pieces like this really show how Frank Converse and his buddies were living in the same musical world as guys like John Philip Sousa and Louis Gottschalk. It's a long way from here to Juba - but it's all good.

Comment by Tim Twiss on March 3, 2011 at 8:21am

I agree Ian. Others may have had long careers as well, but his "paper trail" kind of lets us follow his growth and progression. It is notable how many Stroke tunes he left in the Analytical. They are essentially untouched from earlier days, but highly prized and polished. Respect for the roots, wouldn't you say? 

Comment by Ian Bell on March 3, 2011 at 3:55pm

True enough. People who "improve" musical styles don't always do that. An old 1860s singing-school hymnbook that a group of mine used to sing out of  had a section at the back called the "Old Folks Department". This included the top twenty or so old favorites arranged in the style of the early 19th century (more like shapenote stuff) Not the tamer style  that was taking over at that time. The section came with the disclaimer "We have included these songs for the enjoyment of the old folks - the harmony is bad"  Of course - those were the songs we liked the best!

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