"The publisher, Walter Jacobs, normally listed any arrangers' credits in each of his editions. As there is no other arranger listed, I think that Weidt is the most likely person. A guitar part would be a simple task for a man of his…"
Classic Banjo
A site dedicated to all enthusiasts of Classic Style Banjo
James Tyler's Discussions
Banjo film clips
I have been viewing old Pathe newsreel clips from the 1930s recently at www.britishpathe.com/ and noticed several shorts of Tarrant Bailey, Jr., which might…Continue
Started Apr 19, 2010
Early Banjoists on Recordings
2 Replies
It occured to me that, although some of us older players probably have some of the few issues on CDs of banjo players from the 1890s to ca. 1910, others may not be aware of the interesting resources…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jody Stecher Jan 28, 2010.
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James Tyler posted a discussionBanjo film clips
I have been viewing old Pathe newsreel clips from the 1930s recently at www.britishpathe.com/ and noticed several shorts of Tarrant Bailey, Jr., which might interest members. I found that his playing is quite virtuosic, but, as he is trying to play fiendishly fast, his tone quality is ruined by all the noise of his strings slapping against the frets. What do you guys think?For tenor and plectrum players, you should see the clips of Mario di Pietro.…See More
Jeff left a comment for James Tyler"Thanks for the welcome, James. Excited about learning more about classic banjo!"
James Tyler commented on Trapdoor2's blog post Recent acquisitions..."A note on the Morrison March: Goldby & Shepard put an ad in S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal, Vol. VI no. 1 [whole number 51], April - May 1889, on page 16.
The ad lists "Latest Publications for the Banjo" and contains…"
James Tyler left a comment for Jeff"Welcome, Jeff. Nice to have another southern California member."
James Tyler commented on Rob MacKillop's blog post 35. Banjo Comings and Goings"The "Banjolin": thanks for the Mugwumps lead, but as the Farris ad is presented as undocumented and undated, it still has no bearing on the origins of the tenor banjo. The original Farris patent, no. 315,135, granted April 7, 1885 is for…"
James Tyler commented on Rob MacKillop's blog post 35. Banjo Comings and Goings"Rob, to answer your tango question: the Argentine tango was part and parcel of the overall dance craze in popular music starting about 1907 in Paris and New York. The tango, along with the new "turkey trot", "kangaroo hop",…"
James Tyler replied to Greg Adams's discussion Transition to playing without nails."Greg, as a guitarist switching over to flesh playing on the banjo, you might find the words of a famous guitarist of the past quite interesting: Fernando Sor published his Method in Paris in 1830 and gives quite detailed technichal information.…"
Jody Stecher replied to James Tyler's discussion Early Banjoists on Recordings"About 10 years ago I contacted Norman Field about some of his cassettes that I wasn't able to find. He transferred them on to CD for me and sent them to me across the Atlantic all for a reasonable fee. Yeah, he really put some good records on…"
David Wade replied to James Tyler's discussion Early Banjoists on Recordings"Thanks James, I'd not come across the tinfoil site before. Norman Field's Neovox tapes were a fantastic resource -they still turn up from time to time at Rallies."
James Tyler posted a discussionEarly Banjoists on Recordings
It occured to me that, although some of us older players probably have some of the few issues on CDs of banjo players from the 1890s to ca. 1910, others may not be aware of the interesting resources on the web in this line. A useful site is from the University of California at Santa Barbara which has a large number of cylinder recordings to be heard. Using the search word banjo, I get 110 "hits" which include some of the classic players of that era, including Ruby Brooks, Fred Bacon, Parke…See More
James Tyler replied to Rob MacKillop's discussion Grimshaw's strings - Steel and Tropical silk"I'm glad you concur, David.
To add a further bit of historical string information, here is the following quote from S. Bowley Barnes in which he mentions a silk string, but surely means metal wound on silk:
Barnes & Mullin's Complete…"
Douglas Back left a comment for James Tyler"Hi James,
Did you just recently retire from USC? Are you playing classic banjo in any serious way? I was just thinking this morning, that I've often thought of reviving a Mays-Hunter or Brooks and Denton type duo partnership with someone here…"
Douglas Back left a comment for James Tyler"Hi James,
Glad to know that you liked my CDs. Coming from you, I take that as a very high compliment indeed!
I'm afraid I haven't done much if any lute playing in about 10 or more years, but for quite a while I was quite passionate about…"
James Tyler left a comment for Douglas Back"Hi Doug,
I enjoy your excellent playing on your CDs very much. Keep up the great work. Back in the sixties I had to make a career decision between being a banjo player or a lute player, and chose the lute. Happily, the lute has taken me from the…"
Comment Wall (4 comments)
- At 17:18 on January 10, 2010, Douglas Back said…
- Hi James,
I assume you are the same James Tyler of Early Music renown. One of the most memorable concerts I ever attended was in 1979 (I think) when you were in residence at Washington University in St. Louis and you did a half concert of early music on lute, cittern, mandolino and then the 2nd half of the program where you a ragtime program on tenor banjo with the members of the consort switching to modern instruments. I was inspired to take up the lute shortly after that-studied with Rod Stucky at the St. Louis Conservatory nearby.
I have one of your early lp recordings which I always loved. I was surprised to discover you here on the classic banjo site, although I think I did read that you studied tenor banjo with Walter Kaye Bauer. Anyway, I thought I would offer that comment.
Doug Back
- At 16:59 on January 11, 2010, Douglas Back said…
- Hi James,
Glad to know that you liked my CDs. Coming from you, I take that as a very high compliment indeed!
I'm afraid I haven't done much if any lute playing in about 10 or more years, but for quite a while I was quite passionate about it, and it too allowed me to do some touring that I might not have realized had I only played guitar. Trying to play the lute and guitar with nails, however, when there are so many out there doing it more authentically than I could, eventually led me to put it aside. Besides, there is only so much time and I began to get involved playing the banjo. I've even tried to play classic banjo without nails, but never liked the way it felt for me. The flesh sound is indeed warmer I think, I guess I just prefer (at this point at least) the attack and articulation I can get with a slight bit of nail. I feel that I am still a work in progress, so to speak, with my banjo playing and am always experimenting. And I've still not found an instrument that I am happy with (I always regretted the fact that I made recordings on that tin can of a CE banjo I used.) Oh well.
In any case, that year or so when you were in St. Louis and Kevin Mason, Steve Toombs, Rod Stucky were also around Washington U. I think I attended over a half dozen lute recitals that one year alone. I remember I was just out of high school and working the night shift at a factory (not being too ambitious at the time). I always skipped work whenever there was a lute concert going on and no one seemed to miss me. (I think they liked me because I was the only guy on the whole factory floor who hadn't yet been to prison). Anyway, I decided to study music in college the next year.
The Banjo Museum is brand new and is truly beautiful. I have been here now 6 months. It too is a work in progress. If you are ever in Oklahoma City, please do pay us a visit.
Doug Back
- At 16:21 on January 12, 2010, Douglas Back said…
- Hi James,
Did you just recently retire from USC? Are you playing classic banjo in any serious way? I was just thinking this morning, that I've often thought of reviving a Mays-Hunter or Brooks and Denton type duo partnership with someone here in the US, especially since there is so much 1st and 2nd banjo material available. Perhaps only for recording and a few choice concerts. Nevertheless, since you are someone I've always admired, I was just wondering if you might consider such a thing. My personal email is dback@knology.net
Best regards,
Doug Back
- At 21:02 on April 9, 2010, Jeff said…
- Thanks for the welcome, James. Excited about learning more about classic banjo!
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