Kerr's and other sources

[Tim Twiss]

I have found sections in Kerr's Merry Melodies that are actual source material for the Buckley's, Converse, and Briggs'. I am not certain of the date these books were put out. An interesting one is the the "Kiss me Quick" Galop. It became "Kiss Me Quick and Go". So many of these are awesome. Much of it is fruit waiting to be picked. We have a huge continuation of 19th Century repertoire, right under our noses. I'll share as i unearth these new gems.

By the way, "Briggs" reading is very useful here. Many tunes are written in one or two sharps and lay well with the D as the thumb string. Anybody who thinks Briggs reading is useless outside of one book is mistaken.

[Tim Twiss]

"Johnny Get Your Gun"

Anybody up for a little "Tune of the Week" exercise? Let's take this tune from the Kerr's Violin book and make it a banjo tune. Break out your Rosetta Staffs and give it a go. I've looked it over, and the path is clear. Lot's of great "Banjo Opportunities" in this one with the E note as your thumb string.

Let's break ground with new material.

[Strumelia]

I'm waiting for the Looney Tunes edition as well.

[Ian Bell]

The Kerr's Merry Melodies books started coming out in the 1870s. I don't know if all four volumes came out at once or over a period of time. A lot of the tunes in them were already a century or so old at that point - but not all of them. It would be interesting to date some of the "operatic airs" that they've arranged for dancing. Those at least would have recognized dates of first "appearance" which the folkier tunes don't. Somebody out there must be looking for a topic for their musicology degree.

[Al Smitley]

I looked up Kerr's on the internet and it gave the 1870s as a publication date.  I borrowed "Kerr's Second" book from Tim and it contains "President Garfield's" Hornpipe.....so that particular book contains tunes from 1881 or later.

Tim's "Kiss Me Quick and Go" Galop comment reminds me of another.  Though not from Kerr's, I noticed that "Sontag Polka" (with three parts) sounds as though it may have been the genesis of "Lulu Is Our Darling Pride" (with two parts).....or the other way around, though I suspect that "Sontag..." came first.  I just checked and both have a pub date of 1853.

[Wes Merchant]

Tim if you like Kerr's here's another one you might like, 

http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/book/cameron-violin-music

[Tim Twiss]

Thanks. I leafed through them. Nice it is a free PDF. Money Musk.....seems to make it into almost every book. Never heard of most all of that stuff. Some of the American "Negro" songs and Airs are interesting.

[Wes Merchant]

Ain't the internet great? I believe the Money Musk is set in Ryan's as both a strathspey and a reel. In the reel form it was a popular New England contra dance (see Ryan's for instruction), though I haven't heard it called for years. It's a "triple minor" with the first couple active in every group of six down the set. That's probably way more than you needed to hear...

[Tim Twiss]

Okay, anybody want to go with me on this one...."Doon The Water"??  What I see is a great tune....use the added 5th string ( as Briggs would do ) to enhance the rhythmic interest and general "banjorific" qualities to create a nice arrangement.....something beyond a strict reading of the tune. I'd like to discuss treaments of this and post experiments. This is "ripe fruit".....put yourselves in Converse's shoes.....what would he do to it??

[Tim Twiss]

Yes....just played it again. What an opportunity. Dig in!

[Valerie Diaz Leroy]

Tim-

Where do I find these tunes (Doon on the Water and Johnny Get Your Gun)? My internet searches are turning up with index options.

[Tim Twiss]

I ordered them from Scotland. There are 4 volumes. I got them all at once.

www.footstompin.com

 

[Valerie Diaz Leroy]

Thank you!