Minstrel Banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

Tom Brigg's Jig again in Volume 2 of Kerr's Merry Melodies For The Violin published in Glasgow, Scotland in the 1880s and still in print. All the references I've seen say these books came out in the 1870s but this one includes a tune called President Garfield's Hornpipe. His short term in the White House didn't occur until 1881. Bob Chadduck's seems like it might be a good banjo tune, but I haven't spent much time with it yet - Tim?

Views: 107

Comment by Rob MacKillop on September 15, 2010 at 1:32am
What is the H___ word for the top tune?
Comment by Ian Bell on September 15, 2010 at 6:42am
Hell on The Wabash - Not sure what it might refer to. There's also a tune called Hell among the Yearlings.
Comment by Trapdoor2 on September 15, 2010 at 8:42am
Refers to "The Battle of the Wabash", aka "The Battle of Tippicanoe" (1811). Worst defeat (ever) for any American army...of around 1000, only 48 survived.

President Garfield's Hornpipe is a favorite of guitar players (and fiddlers) around here. Cool tune.
Comment by Tim Twiss on September 15, 2010 at 10:16am
Thanks Marc. I like all the tidbits surrounding the titles of these tunes, be it a forgotton historical event or an obscure musician, or some saying or word that has lost its meaning by now.
Comment by Ian Bell on September 15, 2010 at 11:03am
Thanks for filling in that historical blank Marc. "President Garfield's" is still played in Canada too - often along with "Democratic Rage". (despite the hardcore American titles!)
Comment by Trapdoor2 on September 15, 2010 at 1:17pm
Well, like any other tune title, it could certainly be about something else. The tie to an infamous battle makes the most sense to me though. Of the "Wabash" tunes, I prefer "Fun on the Wabash"...but that is a different forum. ;-)
Comment by Joel Hooks on September 16, 2010 at 10:58pm
"Democratic Rage" would that be the American Civil War?
Comment by Tim Twiss on September 16, 2010 at 11:03pm

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