" Joel : I know you're an FVE fan, so glad you enjoyed this.
Agreed that both posted arrangements are far richer than the Ossman score. It's possible the Ossman HFS score was watered down by its publisher, as was certainly the case for…"
Classic-Banjo
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Shawn McSweeny
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Shawn McSweeny's Discussions
Van Eps Plays "Hot Foot Sue"
5 Replies
Fred Van Eps never recorded "Hot Foot Sue" . . . . or did he?Late in…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Shawn McSweeny 15 hours ago.
"Happy-Go-Lucky" Transcription
3 Replies
Finding the correct composer was a process, as this is an obscure piece with a popular title.This is not the Grimshaw banjo solo of the same name. Nor is it the HGL galop by Miers, or either of the…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by thereallyniceman May 27, 2021.
Dance of the Pirates
4 Replies
Shiver me timbers, mateys, and shake yer booties !!Here's my transcription of "Dance of the Pirates", as played by Vess L. Ossman in the late 1890's, on the National Phonograph Co. (Edison)…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Shawn McSweeny May 25, 2021.
Ossman's Arrangement of "Arabia March"
2 Replies
When our third wave and third lock-down arrived, I'd already passed a year making several wood carvings and a banjo. Looking for a change, in the past month or so, I've transcribed several Ossman…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Shawn McSweeny May 21, 2021.
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"Thanks for this Shawn, I've listened to the recording many times. I've not seen the A notation so I it was nice to get and I played it last night. I have previously played the "Vess Ossman" arrangement and found it…"
"Yeah, pretty cool having total recall and supreme plucking skills at 80."
"Here's a link to the 1896 A Notation Score :
Hot%20Foot%20Sue%20-%201896%20A%20Notn.pdf"
Van Eps Plays "Hot Foot Sue"
Fred Van Eps never recorded "Hot Foot Sue" . . . . or did he?Late in 1958, the nearly 80 year old Van Eps was caught on reel tape warming up. He launched into the first few measures and stopped. Next time through he added a few measures more. Over the next seven minutes or so he gradually rebuilt the sections of a piece which he probably had not played for years. His…See More
"My start on the banjo around 1970 was learning clawhammer fiddle tune arrangements from the John Burke book. Later, as a bluegrass picker I gravitated toward fiddle tunes in melodic style. As a classic finger style player now I still enjoy fiddle…"
"I first met Eli at the banjo collector's gathering in 2003. He and Madeleine approached me- the new-comer - and were very personable. With our mutual nterests in 19th c. banjos and banjo history, he became a friend and mentor. Living not far…"
"So Joel, maybe you'll wear out a few bass strings and learn it for the Fall Rally!"
"Thanks again for the library link Richard. The vocal/piano score was a big assist, despite its several differences from Ossman's arrangement.
My hope is the new transcription motivates a few more people to learn (and enjoy) the…"
"Here's the freshly transcribed score for Ossman's arrangement, as played on his Columbia recording (link at top of Discussion). DOTS and TAB are provided. Perhaps Ian will place them in the score library.
A digital playback of…"
"Richard - many thanks for that ! The score is composed by Von Tilzer, so must be the correct piece. The arrangement is for vocal with piano accompaniment. If lucky, the piano right hand will still carry the full melody -which is…"
"Ossman was naturally very talented, a hard worker and very ambitious. As a twelve year old beginner, he surpassed his original teacher within a short period. In his teens he practiced many hours a day and performed locally at every opportunity. That…"
S.S.Stewart cello banjo
"Here's Cathy Fink briefly playing Marc's cello banjo at the 2017 Collector's Gathering (Arlington). Hopefully the link works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzAFb6W-tOA"
"I've had a copy of Halimar for some time and found just as you did Jody that one strain sounds like the chorus to "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" played at a gallop."
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Comment Wall (2 comments)
- At 2:50pm on February 19, 2014, thereallyniceman gave Shawn McSweeny a gift…
- At 4:39 on January 21, 2016,
Peter LaBau said…
Hi Shawn- sorry to be slow to respond, I only check in here once in a while, all the while knowing I need to do it more frequently! Thanks so much for your note, and it's so nice to know that something I did affected you in a such a positive way. In answer to your question- yes, I have the banjo Doug did for me all those years ago- in fact, he did the banjo twice for me. Th original inlay patterns he did on the fingerboard had to be thrown away- the fret scale was off, and it never played in tune. As beautiful as it was, I had to replace the fingerboard, and in so doing I went from a flat board to a radiused one, which is what I have on all my instruments now. The flat inlays couldn't be moved over, so for the longest time, I had just the pear bars that descended from the nut, and the rest of the board was just blank. Two years ago, I sent the banjo neck back to Doug to have him add bars up at the top of the board, and add in some position markers in between. Here's what it looks like now:
The pot is a 1910's Tubaphone- 11-1/2" diameter, and the neck is a 28" scale. I have another pot like this that I'm having Kevin Enoch make a new neck for- I'll use that one for raised "D" bass- I use two banjos when I perform- I find that retuning just one instrument never works out real well- the bass string keeps changing after changing pitches. You're Canandian, right? Toronto? It would be fun to meet up one day- I'll hope that might happen. All the best to you- Peter
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