Well Marc beat me to it (thanks for the kind words Marc). Indeed, the current issue of the ABF's "5 Stringer" has a Special Supplement, "Morley's Bath Folio Volume One"  with 5 previously unpublished, Bath-related solos, laboriously transcribed from cylinder recordings or typeset from manuscript. We hope you'll keep them on your music stand and enjoy playing them.

Additional copies are available to ABF members.

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I didn't mean to steal your thunder, Shawn but I was surprised and delighted to find that in my mailbox this afternoon. You are really adding value to the ABF (here too) and it is much appreciated.

I hope there are more volumes in the works!

Hi Marc  Glad to see your enthusiasm. 

The Supplement was designated as Volume One for a reason .  .  . Stay tuned.

Does that mean we can look forward to a transcription of Yankee Glide? Surely Morley's weirdest composition and all but impenetrable beneath the sizzles, pops, and sonic tornadoes on the T Bailey cylinder.

Hi Jody : I haven't personally checked this, but ABF editor Eli Kaufman has observed that "Yankee Glide" is an early version of what was published as "Popcorn", so not a transcription priority at the the moment.

However, there are at least two versions recorded to cylinder, so they might be worthwhile transcribing to capture the differences.

In the meantime, if you enjoy weird, try "A Twiddly Bit".

I'm looking at the Popcorn notation and I see a couple of similar rhythmic figures that are also in Yankee Glide.  I could say the same for any two classic banjo solos. I think they may qualify as two different tunes. 

I have access to one recording of Yankee Glide. It is #9 on Steve Walker's 2003 Neophone CD release "The Tarrant Bailey Collection Volume 1".  Where can one hear the other known cylinder recording of Yankee Glide?   

On the same CD #8 is called "Twiddly Bits." and is announced as such by Richard Tarrant Bailey on the recording.  How did the title become one Twiddly Bit?

Shawn McSweeny said:

Hi Jody : I haven't personally checked this, but ABF editor Eli Kaufman has observed that "Yankee Glide" is an early version of what was published as "Popcorn", so not a transcription priority at the the moment.

However, there are at least two versions recorded to cylinder, so they might be worthwhile transcribing to capture the differences.

In the meantime, if you enjoy weird, try "A Twiddly Bit".

Which one became "Dig-Dag"? I thought that was the published version of "Yankee Glide"...my memory ain't what it used to be!

Dig Dag is a straightforward major key cakewalk-ish chord-based tune of the Georgia Camp Meeting/ Whistling Rufus type. Yankee Glide has loping long-short rhythm and slithers between major, minor, and indescribably demented.

Trapdoor2 said:

Which one became "Dig-Dag"? I thought that was the published version of "Yankee Glide"...my memory ain't what it used to be!

Jody : In the Folio, the editors mention they were lucky enough to get to know Mouse Bailey and were given permission to record to cassette many of the Bath cylinders. This  includes cylinders other than the ones eventually issued on the Neophone disk and remain in their private collection.

The Neophone  "Twiddley Bits"  (sic) is one of two recordings made of the same piece (very minor differences between them). On the second, TB Sr. announces the piece as "A Twiddly Bit". I opted to use the latter title for the transcription.

Marc :  "American March" played by TB Sr on the CD was published as "Dig-Dag".

Thanks, Shawn. That makes sense.  A while back there was a discussion here about Yankee Glide. So that others would know what the fuss was about I posted an audio recording, an mp3 of the Neophone cylinder. Any chance of an mp3 of the other Yankee Glide recording appearing here?  I have cleaned up the Neophone employing humble home EQ tools. It's much better but deciphering and transcribing is still partly archeology and guesswork to some extent. It's just possible that the other recording, though covered in noises, is relatively clean in the dirtiest parts of the other recorded performance, if you see what I mean.

Shawn McSweeny said:

Jody : In the Folio, the editors mention they were lucky enough to get to know Mouse Bailey and were given permission to record to cassette many of the Bath cylinders. This  includes cylinders other than the ones eventually issued on the Neophone disk and remain in their private collection.

The Neophone  "Twiddley Bits"  (sic) is one of two recordings made of the same piece (very minor differences between them). On the second, TB Sr. announces the piece as "A Twiddly Bit". I opted to use the latter title for the transcription.

Marc :  "American March" played by TB Sr on the CD was published as "Dig-Dag".

Yes, Jody I see what you mean. However, posting of the editors' recordings would be their decision to make, not mine.

I just got the new Five Stringer in the mail today.  Shawn, great work on the Bath Folio!  

Thanks John. Maybe alongside "Jazzbo's Holiday" you'll find room on your music stand for the two polkas. Both are excellent pieces.

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