Andante Op 31 No 1 - Sor - Arr. Jeffery

This is a Grade 2 classical guitar piece and one of Fernando Sor's most famous études, arranged for Classic banjo, with a twist -- the repeats are played one octave higher than in the original -- by Al Jeffery, a great Classic style banjoist, in the 1970s. I used to play this piece on the guitar, and it's amazing how this arrangement follows the original almost note-for-note, including the bass.

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Comment by Alan Sims on May 9, 2012 at 19:26

nice playing Mike ,i was wondering if the tune hi lilly hi lilly hi lo was taken from this lovely tune .Do  you have the music, I think i could handle this one .Regards Alan

Comment by Mike Moss on May 9, 2012 at 19:33
Hi Alan,

it does bear a slight resemblance to hi lilly hi lilly hi lo, doesn't it?

I posted the music here a few months ago: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/play-sor-like-a-boss

along with tabs I had made at the time.

Please note that I was terrible at making tabs back then (still am) and that there are so many mistakes in my tabbed version, it's almost unplayable. That is not the way I play it nowadays, I'll eventually update the tab.
Comment by Mike Moss on May 10, 2012 at 10:21

I found a website dedicated to Al Jeffery's memory: http://www.ritawebb.co.uk/jeffy.htm -- apparently he was also a member of the Black and White minstrels

Comment by thereallynicelady on May 10, 2012 at 17:42

I really enjoyed listening to this one - a classical piece in classic banjo style. OH should add this one to the juke box then I can line up the music of my choice, put the computer in the corner and sit listening to my own 'chamber music'. I'll just play it again.

Comment by Mike Moss on May 10, 2012 at 18:27

Thank you, Mrs. Reallynicelady! It's always nice to play something different, it certainly helps to break down stereotypes about the 'jo. I have been working on some arrangements of classical music (with mixed success) but perhaps some lighter Kammermusik might be suitable for the instrument.

Comment by Sylvia on May 10, 2012 at 22:42

Now where did I put that book " Sor  First 12 etudes "   I think it was called , or something like that  :) 

That was great Mike.

Comment by marc dalmasso on May 11, 2012 at 9:08

very good , Mike ; i have the book , too ; I  started to play " recuerdos de la Alhambra " but  it ' s impossible to play it exept on a 6 strings ' Bj or  a guitar banjo of course . I wonder why  this piece is in the book ? your link is interesting , showing a paragon plectrum , but i cannot see how he would do even with a plectrum Bj ..

Comment by Mike Moss on May 11, 2012 at 11:20

Impossible n'est pas français! I don't have Jeffery's arrangement but I think I know what you're talking about. The long stretch from 3PB to the 8th fret is definitely possible with practice; you can see Ken Aoki perform it on Youtube.  If you bend your elbow and fret the 1st and 2nd strings with your pinky and ring fingers like he does you’ll see that it’s tricky but manageable. I haven’t got Jeffery’s arrangement, could you please send it to me? I only have the sheet music from BMG, but it’s obvious his arrangement was written for the 5-string banjo and not the 6-string.

Comment by marc dalmasso on May 11, 2012 at 12:27

Yes , it 's impossible without crashing the tremolo ( even with big hands &  a short scale  ' Bj ) , i 've tried it ..there always be a " buzz " on the bass string when you do that . Never mind , i already have a " recuerdos de la Alhambra " ... my wife , who is from & born in Granada ; his name is Maria like every Spanish girl ; very strange , isn ' t it ? that i met a girl from Granada ( the mountain surrounding Granada is the Sierra Nevada ) when my main banjo is a Granada and my steel guitar a ....... Sierra ;

some pictures with my wife , our 2 daughters & my sister in law and the Alhambra . i add a photo of manuel de Falla & federico Garcia Lorca in the Alhambra around 1935

Comment by Sylvia on May 11, 2012 at 22:39

Recuerdos for Banjo , brilliant , thank you Marc.  This one I really must try.

Super photo of yourself and family, my little granddaughter dosn't like her photo being taken either.

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