John Masciale's Comments

John,

I'm sure the new Johnny Booker audio is going to stir some controversy. I'm not in favor of using the n-word on this site. I'm all for historical accuracy but not when it insult people, even if un-intentional. I say we drop it.

Hi John,

Well it will not be long before you will have a chance to hear the Liberty Hall Fifes and Drums. we plan to put out our first CD this summer. We have been in the studio and started the first tracks.

Sorry if the Johnny Booker tune insulted someone. That was not the intention at all. I know Carl from other forums and do not want to upset him. I will take it off now.

Take care and Merry Christmas.

Well, thank you sir. This looks to be an interesting site with some valuable information. Like many of you, I'm involved in living history. I spend a great deal of time at Cowtown, a living history museum in Wichita, Kansas. I also do woodworking and leather work, but I love the music of the mid 19th century. I am a fiddler, mostly, but have built two banjos (one a minstrel kit from Flesher) and I'm working on a third that I hope to master as my own. It will be good to learn from this group.

Thanks John,
This is a wonderful site.
Jim

Thank you John. I've enjoyed viewing yours and others pages. I found the site by happy accident.

John,
I alternate on the banjo and guitar and keep the music in the realm of songs written before or during the Civil War. Songs include Rock of Ages, Amazing Grace, Angel Band, Poor Wayfaring Stranger, He Leadeth Me, Church in the Wildwood, Just As I Am, Nearer My God to Thee, and Say Brothers. I also include the wonderful stories behind the songs like Amazing Grace and Just As I Am. The CD I am working on now is filled with twelve of these tunes including one I wrote, Let Us Cross Over the River and Rest Under the Shade of the Trees. (Stonewall Jackson's last words.)

Thanks for taking the time to put this site up and thanks for the welcome!
John Peterson

Thanks John, taken me a while to get over here, I'll just sit at the back with a 7-string z-b and have a pint while you lads get on with it.
www.zither-banjo.org

Thanks for the welcome, John. I shall probably lurk quietly. I enjoyed your 22 February video - what's the banjo?

Thanks for the welcome. I have recently discovered the minstrel banjo and am looking forward to finding more information about it.

Yes, John...but it seems silly to start a new thread just to upload a file. This is the only (real picky) thing I dislike about these 'ning' sites. No big deal though.

Hi John, Thanks for the welcome. I'm on the North side and mostly play clawhammer. I do love the sound of the low tuned banjo, however, and have tried to learn a couple of the old Minstrel tunes.

Thanks, John. Made the gourd banjo at an Ozark Folk School workshop with David Hyatt a couple of years ago ...

Thanks for the welcome ...

Hi John,
I actually got a modern banjo before I built my minstrel banjo.I didn't know much at the time(about 3 years ago)about minstrel banjo or the stroke style of playing.I assumed that the"bluegrass"or"Earl Scruggs"style was the way its always been played so I started to learn all the rolls thats taught with the Earll Scruggs way of playing.Now I really enjoy playing the stroke style and really have no intrest in learning the Earl Scruggs way at this point.I just love this music! I tell some people that my banjo will only play 19th centry music!!

Thanks for the welcome John.

I'm looking forward to expanding my Minstrel banjo knowledge, and, hopefully, introducing a few more people to it over in the UK.

Hi John,

I have been scarce around here for several months due to an extremely busy semester and performance schedule.

I hate to come back with a complaint -- actually, it isn't a complaint because I know it isn't your fault -- just a "heads-up "for you.

I got a spam message here today :(quoted)

---Emiline Chen said…
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Just thought you should know about it.

I really appreciate what you are doing here and hope to find more time to participate.

Thanks,

Jim Dalton

Hi John,

Thanks for your response and for your attention to the "issue". I really hope you don't have to deal with too much of that sort of thing. It would be a shame to see you have to do that much more work because of that foolishness.

Have a great holiday weekend.

Jim

Thanks, glad I found it!

Thanks, John, and thanks for starting the network!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm a 1-year clawhammer player, and the minstrel style looks like something I would really like to pursue.