Barbara Dryden's Page

Master Albert Torrence at The Wigmore Hall, 1927

How annoying is this? I know that I have seen the original programme for this concert, a small buff trifold card. Bert is listed as ‘Master Albert Torrence’. Where on earth is it? What you see in the photo is a photocopied page from ‘ Rhythm’,…

Oct 30, 2023

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Barbara Dryden posted photos

Sep 24, 2023

Jody Stecher commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

Myrtle Martin 1946

"Thank you, Barbara. Nylon lasts longer than gut and is less expensive and eventually gut strings became hard to obtain so using nylon strings may have been the practical thing to do."

Jul 25, 2023

Barbara Dryden commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

Myrtle Martin 1946

"Hello again Jody. My sister has just found the answer for me. On the album, Mum is playing a pre-war, nylon-strung Clifford Essex Paragon. When she was young and had a few lessons with George Morris, he recommended changing to gut strings, which she…"

Jul 24, 2023

Barbara Dryden commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

Myrtle Martin 1946

"When I have time, I will double check that it is a Paragon; it will be on the album sleeve and I can't easily get at it just now. The critic: he raved about the playing so I suppose he just didn't like the Clifford Essex banjos."

Jul 24, 2023

Jody Stecher commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

Myrtle Martin 1946

"Thanks, Barbara. I was asking about this particular model of Clifford Essex banjo, the Paragon. It seems it was not favored by either British or American players for playing the repertoire and style now known as "classic banjo".…"

Jul 24, 2023

Richard William Ineson commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

Myrtle Martin 1946

"I remember Bert and Myrtle they were lovely people and excellent banjo players. I used to see and hear them, at the meetings of the Westminster Banjo Circle, formerly the London Banjo Club which were held in the Abbey Rooms but moved to the Old Rose…"

Jul 23, 2023

Jody Stecher commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

Myrtle Martin 1946

"Thanks for posting this! A banjo-nerdy question if you don't mind: The banjo in the photo looks like a Clifford Essex Paragon. Was this the banjo she played in the duet?"

Jul 22, 2023

Barbara Dryden posted a photo

Myrtle Martin 1946

My mother Myrtle Martin (later Torrence) aged twenty-three, after the 1946 BMG Rally.She won The Emile Grimshaw Cup, playing 'Sailors Don't Care' and the John Alvey Turner cup, playing 'Romance in C Minior'. She was the first person to win both…

Jul 22, 2023

8 Comments

Barbara Dryden posted a photo

Lewisham BMG Club, winners of the John Alvey Turner Shield 1946

I have a copy of the programme for the 1946 BMG rally. The John Alvey Turner Shield was for Bands & Orchestras. The test piece was ‘Operatic Memories’, arr. Grimshaw. Lewisham Club were first, Croydon second.

Jul 10, 2023

1 Comment

Joel Hooks commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

BMG magazine

"Thanks!"

Jun 26, 2023

Barbara Dryden commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

BMG magazine

"Ian has asked me but I haven't tried it yet. If I can't do it well enough, I'll send the magazine to him."

Jun 26, 2023

Joel Hooks commented on Barbara Dryden's photo

BMG magazine

"Are you able to scan the entire issue for Ian to add to the collection here?"

Jun 26, 2023

Barbara Dryden posted a photo

BMG magazine

September 1904 issue.

Jun 25, 2023

3 Comments

Barbara Dryden left a comment for thereallyniceman

"Thank you for the welcome! It was seeing that you had the Torrences music freely available that made me apply to join. They were good friends with Tom Barrible and knew Derek Lillywhite and 'Billy' Ball, all on your list. I see this forum…"

Jun 25, 2023

thereallyniceman left a comment for Barbara Dryden

"It is very good to see you here! If you check out the ORIGINAL RECORDINGS page and select The Torrences from ALBUMS search, you will see that there are recordings fo your parents there. We are always pleased to see music, photos and BMGs…"

Jun 24, 2023

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Lewisham BMG Club, winners of the John Alvey Turner Shield 1946

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