Friday evening post.

[Carl Anderton]

Let's look at Durang's Hornpipe for our next tune of the week. It has been documented back to the Revolutionary War, and is found in many 19th century primmers, and is still heard today, mostly by flatpickers and fiddlers.

There are many versions of this tune, so let's not necessairly follow the Ryan's version given here. Do a google search, listen to youtube versions, and create what you feel is a satisfying and appropriate version for the fretless minstrel banjo.

This Tune of the Week thing is such good exercise, I hope we can keep it going and more people jump in. We've got four, that's pretty good, who'll make it a quintet? Oh, and we should take turns choosing the tune; John, why don't you pick the next one?

My pianist made a funny comment, when I told her what I was doing with the tune we recorded--"Deadlines are good things!"

[Tim Twiss]

Hey, this was a great call. It is challenging, but practical. Another addition to the ever expanding repertoire.
I enjoy seeing the different treatments of the high range from player to player.

[Carl Anderton]

I didn't feel particularly good about my contribution this week. My version just doesn't seem to swing right. It's a "notey" tune, especially the B part. I liked your version better, Tim.

It certainly was good practice though, and goodness knows, I've had tunes that I didn't like at first , but they eventually became important parts of my repertiore.

What's our next project, Tim?

[Tim Twiss]

We seem to end up with about the same approach. A few spots worth noting that we did differently from a fingering approach were
1. The low note figure in the 4th measure. That is a spot that is hard to get a consistent sound when using a thumb/finger alteration. I wimped out and went with all thumb.
2. The last high figure in the line with the descending arpeggio...I started with a closed postion, as you did Carl, but ended up doing a shift utilizing 2 sets of double stops on the 1st and 2nd string.
This is one tune that really deserves some rhythm backing. It is a hard one to hold steady as a soloist. Certain parts really want to push ahead.

Next week....? Any ideas?
I have some new material that I want to open up for discussion....a Buckley Fiddle Book from 1855. It has some compositions with credit given to none other than Tom Briggs. We should try these tunes.