Steve Harrison
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  • Malvern, Worcestershire
  • United Kingdom
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Steve Harrison's Discussions

The Tremolo Trot..1914..Charles Lukyth Roberts

Started on Sunday

Four Little Blackberries (Schottische)..Lawrence B. O'Connor.
5 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Joel Hooks Jun 10.

Electric Park Rag..1912..Jean Ledies

Started Jun 5

 

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Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Tremolo Trot..1914..Charles Lukyth Roberts

My previous attempts to upload this were thwarted by Ning doing 'essential' site maintenance. Hopefully this will be 3rd. time lucky! It's a bit different from my usual offerings, as the title suggests, tremolo is used,in particular bars 75-81 and 115-122 which are notated on the piano score as chord tremolos. I've approximated this by using chord triplets. Although keeping to the spirit of the original, I've made a number of significant changes to make it banjo friendly. I've added an extra 4…See More
Sunday
0 Comments
Joel Hooks replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Four Little Blackberries (Schottische)..Lawrence B. O'Connor.
"It is all good stuff Steve, the more the better.  We own this public domain music collectively, we should take advantage of it and do what we like with it.  Transposing to suit the banjo is good. The whole Walter Jacobs thing was part of a…"
Jun 10
Steve Harrison replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Four Little Blackberries (Schottische)..Lawrence B. O'Connor.
"Hi Joel, I can see the logic regarding the choice of key in the early banjo arrangements. I've never considered it an issue as most of my arrangements are  Banjo solos and I choose the key which I find suits the banjo which is a subjective…"
Jun 10
Joel Hooks replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Four Little Blackberries (Schottische)..Lawrence B. O'Connor.
"Walter Jacobs was fairly good about publishing banjo arrangements for a good chunk of his catalog (up until people stopped buying banjo music).  They tend to be high quality and errors/typos are usually very minimum to none.  Most of the…"
Jun 9
Steve Harrison replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Four Little Blackberries (Schottische)..Lawrence B. O'Connor.
"Hi Joel, thanks for that, I guessed there must be another arrangement somewhere in banjo land...Steve. "
Jun 9
Joel Hooks replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Four Little Blackberries (Schottische)..Lawrence B. O'Connor.
"Here is the Walter Jacobs arrangement:"
Jun 9
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Four Little Blackberries (Schottische)..Lawrence B. O'Connor.

This is one of five tunes written by O'Connor which follow a similar theme. I have arranged all of them and will post them in due course. It was only after I had written this arrangement that I came across Ossman's recording in original recordings. My arrangement is similar but it does differ in parts. The piano score was written in D/G but after some experimentation, I found that G/C worked better on the banjo. Steve.…See More
Jun 9
5 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Electric Park Rag..1912..Jean Ledies

This is a very well written one off rag by a composer about whom I could no info. There were two Electric Parks opened in Kansas City in 1899 and 1907 and as the music was published there, I think it's fair to assume that the title refers to them. Nothing else is known about the tune other than what is printed on the title page...Steve.See More
Jun 5
0 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Turkey In The Straw (A Ragtime Fantasie)...1904..Otto Bonnell

This a very interesting ragtime-ish arrangement of a well known favourite. Nothing is known about the composer. It's not too challenging and is well worth a listen and play. The piano score was written in C/F but it works better on the banjo in G/C. I've replaced the glissando in bar 34 with something more playable...Steve. See More
May 31
0 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Ghost Dance (Dance Descriptive)..1911..Cora Salisbury

This tune, set in 6/8 time, is similar in structure to G.L.Cobb's Ghost Walk, my arrangement of which can be found in the library. It's very well written with plenty of variety. I've rewritten some parts of the intro and trio to make it better fit the banjo...Steve.See More
May 27
0 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Senegambian Patrol..1899..George Rosey.

Printed on the top of the piano score is the following. 'A Colored regiment is on parade, the composer endeavours to represent the approach, the review passing the stand and final departure until lost in the distance.' This he has achieved in this well written composition. It was tricky to arrange for banjo but I'm pleased with the result. I've rewritten the ending i.e. bars 127 to 150 to make it more suitable for banjo. It is challenging to play but well worth a try...Steve.…See More
May 21
0 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Yarney's Ideal..1910..(Negro Sketch)..F.W.Stimson

This tune sounds to me as if it was based on, or is a copy of, an early stroke style banjo tune. I could find no information about the composer. It's a good one and makes a good banjo solo. I've rewritten some parts of the trio and set the key in G/C from the original which was in F/Bb...Steve.See More
May 18
0 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Irish Foxtrot..1915..Paul Biese aka Percy Hawthorn Sudborough.

This is a well written compilation of a variety of Irish melodies given the ragtime/foxtrot treatment.  Biese was a prolific composer of popular music and songs between 1913 and 1924. I wasn't keen on the original trio so I rewrote bars 30 to 39. My suggested fingering leans strongly towards melodic style....Steve.See More
May 17
0 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Royal Rag..1899..Tom North

This is a very good early example of ragtime. It's the only known composition by Tom North. All that is known about him is that he was born in Middle Town, Ohio in 1875, he married in 1896 and both he and his wife were pianists. He made a living as a jobbing musician playing mainly ragtime music.The piano score was written in F/Dmin/Ab but I have arranged it in D/Bmin/F as it better fits the banjo. The unconventional change of key from D to F in the trio gives the tune a nice lift...Steve.…See More
May 9
0 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

"Cleanin' Up" In Georgia..1899..Cake-Walk Patrol Or Two-Step..Harry P.Guy

This is another excellent early cake-walk from H.P.Guy. The piano score was written in F/Dmin/Bb but I've arranged it in C/Amin/F as it better fits the banjo. I've made one or two minor amendments and rewrites to make it more banjo friendly. My suggested fingering includes melodic style.I'd put it on my highly recommended list!..Steve.See More
May 6
0 Comments
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Silver Heels..1905..An Indian Intermezzo..Neil Moret aka Chas.N.Daniels

I first arranged this some years ago, this is a much improved arrangement to my original. It's a well written composition and was part of the repertoire of the Wallace Hartley Band that played on the Titanic and this tune would have been played to the passengers. The piano score was written in D/G but I've arranged it in F/Bb as it better suited the bass solo in the third part...Steve.  …See More
Apr 27
0 Comments

Profile Information

Steve Harrison

Hi all, Just a bit about myself. I live in the beautiful town of Malvern in Worcestershire, England. I have been playing classic and melodic style banjo for more years than I care to recall. I play an Alfred Weaver banjo made around 1903 and a Windsor popular made 1914ish. As well as banjo, my other instrument is piano accordion, not very fashionable these days but great for playing tradtional music, my main passion. I play occasionally for local Morris Dance sides arround Malvern. Having reached the grand old age of 60, I am semi retired which leaves me more time for my music and my other love, my two grandchildren. I'm about to start teaching my 7 year old grandson the Uke as an entry into greater things. If there are any other players in or near my location, please make contact...Steve.

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Comment Wall (15 comments)

At 6:35 on December 29, 2010, Sylvia said…
Hi Steve, I'm a bit nearer to you than Rob, but still a longish way away , I'm on the Isle of Wight.    Was interested to read that you played for Morris. I am a member of the local Oyster Girls Ladies Morris team.  Might just bump into you at one of the Folk Festivals , don't yet know which ones we are doing this year though.   All the Best.  Sylvia.
At 8:57 on December 30, 2010, Sylvia said…
Hi Steve,the oyster girls were at Upton last year. I am only a beginner at Banjo and have found this site very helpful. I have also had a few lessons with Rob over the internet, great stuff this new technology. Will look out for you at any Festivals I go to. I have heard Rochester mentioned for this coming year. All the best. Sylvia
At 17:49 on February 8, 2012, Alan Sims said…

hi Steve ,ive just had my clifford essex frets redressed and set up .it sounds lovely and so much easier to play .ive got medium gauge strings .ive been playing about a year .would i be ready for a heavier set ,and would this change the action .how often sould change them i practice every day' regards Alan

At 17:56 on February 8, 2012, Alan Sims said…

how often should i change strings i practice every day regards Alan

At 20:13 on March 4, 2012, Tim Walsh said…

Hi Steve,

 

I've only recently been made aware of Classic Banjo through meeting another member David Greenwood.

I've only been playing a relatively short while and have been learning bluegrass.

I'm looking to broaden my playing skills in to claw hammer and Classic styles and from what I've seen of the tutorials on this site so far I think I'm in the right place.

 

 

 

 

 

At 7:31 on May 21, 2012, Mike Redman said…

Hi Steve, have you thought about transposing/arranging A Ragtime Dance (Scott Joplin) for the banjo, I was listening to it the other day, now can't get the tune off of my mind!

At 10:35 on June 20, 2012, Alan Sims said…

thanks for the tip Steve, that makes sence.three lines above .E. cheers.

At 11:13am on August 28, 2012, Alan Sims gave Steve Harrison a gift…
Gift
Red Ribbon
Thanks Steve.It sounds great.
From the Gift Store
At 8:59am on September 19, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a gift…
Gift
Frosty Mug of Beer
I would personally like to thank Steve for all the work he has done on producing new arrangements for Classic Banjo and making them available for us all. Check out all his scores in the MUSIC LIBRARY.
From the Gift Store
At 4:23pm on November 30, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a gift…
Gift
Birthday Balloons
Thank you to Steve for all the arrangements and contributions. I can't say how old he is as I can't count that high :-) HAPPY BIRTHDAY
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