Ossman's "Dreamy Eyes"

[Shawn McSweeny]

This week’s Ossman piece is “Dreamy Eyes”, a rhythmic march recorded for Edison c. 1903. The restored recording is clear enough that you can really hear the banjo’s ringing tone in several spots and enjoy Ossman’s great playing throughout, along with the adept piano accompaniment (perhaps by Frank P. Banta, Edison's house-pianist to 1903).

The score, arranged by Britain’s banjo boy-wonder, Charlie Rogers,  is “as played by Vess Ossman”. From the cover art (originally for the piano score, but now banjo-"eyesed”) we see the composer is non other than J. B. Lampe, whose “Creole Belles” was a big hit. Despite his renown, Lampe was not credited on the banjo score, until now. 

Ossman Plays DREAMY EYES

 

 Listen to the score playback and you’ll agree it is very close to the Ossman recording. 

 

 

DREAMY EYES Score Playback

The score is available in notation and TAB.

 

[Jody Stecher]

Thank you. This is one of my favorite banjo recordings.

[thereallyniceman]

What great work Shawn!  I have always liked J B Lampe's compositions and this is a superb piece. Yet again the class of Ossman's playing shines through.

You were very lucky to find the ultra rare original banjo sheet music too!

;-))

[marc dalmasso]

I used to play it slowly because i didn 't know very well this  beautiful tune and looked at  the score

here is it with a visual on the neck ;

http://classic-banjo.ning.com/video/dreamy-eyes-j-b-lampe-vess-ossman

[Shawn McSweeny]

Hi Marc : Nicely done

Last week, comparing the score with the recording, I found a couple of off-notes, a presumed typo, and corrected them on my pdf.

You played that measure as per the original score, but for next time, in measure 18, (third line, second last measure) you'll probably find it sounds more like the recording if the two F's are played as F#.