Clarence Polka March

[Andy Spencer]

Hi all,
Has anyone else played the Clarence Polka March by Herbert J Ellis? Great duet if you haven't.

Kind regards
Andy Spencer

[Jody Stecher]

I just had a look at the sheet music .Looks like good fun. Very banjo-friendly. Can you tell us what a polka-march is? How is it danced? I think Sousa wrote a piece called Polka March.

[Andy Spencer]

I would be lying if I said I knew how it's danced! It is a good piece though. Did it for my GCSE music exam back in 1998!

[Joel Hooks]

Thanks for putting this on my radar Andy!

I am always on the lookout for what I think of as pieces that are "good clean fun."  By that I mean, easy to play but interesting and sound good.

One of the intimidating factors of classic banjo is that many of the pieces (especially those after 1900 or of British composition) are very difficult to play.  Even most of the "ABF Standards for group play" are not the easiest.

On the other hand there are many pieces that are easy but just plain dull.

This is what I think of as a middle ground piece.  I could read through the 2nd at speed only stumbling when I got to the 16th notes.  The second time though I was fine.

The first banjo uses the old familiar 8th/ 16th-16th or "bum didty" though a lot of it.

If we were "jamming on this" I would probably suggest that we trade parts on the repeats or play through the entire piece twice switching the 2nd time through.

[Andy Spencer]

Hi Joel. Yes that would be an idea. We used to play Cromartie Polka March as well in the Jacklin Cheshire Frets Orchestra which was a great song in a similar mode.

[Jody Stecher]

I played through it yesterday afternoon to the smell of roasting turkey coming from the kitchen. Yes, it's easy to read, easy to play,  and fun and not dull at all. It's even better with gravy.

Andy Spencer said:

Hi Joel. Yes that would be an idea. We used to play Cromartie Polka March as well in the Jacklin Cheshire Frets Orchestra which was a great song in a similar mode.

[Steve Harrison]

Hi Joel, you are quite right that some of those tunes can be difficult to play and I think there may be a case for rearranging some of them to make then less of a challenge but still maintain the spirit and musicality of the original. Let me know if there are any in particular you would like to try and I'll put them on my to do list. It would make for an interesting project....Steve.

Joel Hooks said:

Thanks for putting this on my radar Andy!

I am always on the lookout for what I think of as pieces that are "good clean fun."  By that I mean, easy to play but interesting and sound good.

One of the intimidating factors of classic banjo is that many of the pieces (especially those after 1900 or of British composition) are very difficult to play.  Even most of the "ABF Standards for group play" are not the easiest.

On the other hand there are many pieces that are easy but just plain dull.

This is what I think of as a middle ground piece.  I could read through the 2nd at speed only stumbling when I got to the 16th notes.  The second time though I was fine.

The first banjo uses the old familiar 8th/ 16th-16th or "bum didty" though a lot of it.

If we were "jamming on this" I would probably suggest that we trade parts on the repeats or play through the entire piece twice switching the 2nd time through.

[thereallyniceman]

I don't think that re-arranging original banjo arrangements is a good idea.

I would prefer them to be as written for banjo, not how we think they should be written for banjo. 

[Joel Hooks]

I also don't think it is necessary to change them.  They are playable-- some easier than others.  I believe TAB actually makes them more complicated.  It seems with TAB there is more clutter on the page with less information.

The only points I was trying to make is that A) thanking Andy for pointing this piece out. B) I like to keep easy and fun pieces at hand for jamming fun in small groups.

The difficult part is finding someone who plays classic banjo and reads notation (even basic stuff).  There seems to be so few in the US, perhaps no more than than double digits these days.

Seems a shame.  All that music for free while folks fuss around with "ear methods" and play by numbers.

[F. Chris Ware]

Not to rudely to hijack this thread here, but Joel brings up a point about which I’ve been meaning to post something for months now — not that you, Ian, and your son haven’t done an absolutely tremendous and matchless job with this site already, especially lately with the flabbergasting work on the Works of Joe Morley — but if there was some way to geographically index the site’s members so that interested parties might “find a nearby classic banjoist” or (even, I guess, avoid one) it could be really, well, cool.

I know there’s an option to put one’s city/postal code in on one’s settings page — is there already a way of sorting or classifying according to region/country about which I was not previously aware? Or a way of adding a sort category? Is there something I could do to help with this? (Probably not, since my programming skills are nil, but it would be impolite to not offer!)

I just looked at my own settings and noticed I’d neglected to input my own zip code (ahem) so I have dutifully done so in the wake of this idle query. I also noticed that you, Joel, put in a friend request to me on Oct. 4th (!) which I did not see until now — my apologies. Sob! Friend!

Finally, to complete my hijacking, here’s a recent scan-in which I don’t think is otherwise available; the first issue of Dobson’s ill-fated Banjo Magazine from 1886, which I’ve had for years and digitized a few weeks ago with the intention of posting. (Joel, of course feel free to add to your archive.org site if you'd like.) It’s got a couple of interesting things in it like a mention of Gad Robinson, to say nothing of filling in the edges of the picture of the 1880s banjo craze and Dobson’s reaction to Stewart’s Journal and Stewart’s encroachment on his business.

Happy belated Carcass Day to all (as my daughter has been calling it),

C.

Dobson's Banjo Magazine 3-1886.pdf

[thereallyniceman]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the post and the suggestions. I love these old magazines!!

The problem with disclosing the whereabouts of site members and other players it that they may not actually WANT their location revealed!

THINK:  Large collections of valuable banjos and a name and location could lead to trouble !!!!!

Also some people may want to simply remain anonymous hiding behind silly web names ( eg thereallyniceman) so that they don't get pestered!

So me disclosing a member's location is a NO NO. 

... but,  I set up the  website's "FRIENDS" request system so that if you contact a site member and request to be their FRIEND.. and are accepted, their name will automatically be added to a contact list in you INBOX (at the top RHS of the home page).

When you click on +COMPOSE you will get a list of friends that you can directly email.

This way it is only possible to contact people who WANT to be contacted.

It does not help finding that Classic Banjo player who lives in the next street, but you could put out a request, make a friend, then email them and locate them that way.

I hope this helps.

[thereallyniceman]

I have read through the Dobson's Banjo Magazine and noticed something interesting.

Perhaps it is just me.. but I have never heard of cedar being used for banjo bridges.

Anyone had any experience as they seem to be described as "best for describing a brilliant tone" and this seems odd as cedar is a very soft wood I believe?

At 50c a dozen they are worth a try..where do I order them??

;-))

[Joel Hooks]

Holy Smokes! A Banjo periodical I did not even know about!  I find It a very welcome addition to paint an a picture of what the kids were into.  Thanks Chris!!!

Bridges=  You tend to see cedar, pine and "whitewood" mentioned in the early tutors and ads.  I've used them for my "tub" banjos and stroke style and prefer pine.  It is very loud!

Basswood is also very loud.

With the heavy strings and hard attack you use Ian they might no hold up.

Did you read my bridge article in the 5 Stringer?