A Kerry Mills composition from 1896... sound familiar?

Steve has been hunting for lost gems again and has come across a piece composed by the famous Kerry Mills (composer of Whistling Rufus).

 

This piece was composed in 1896, some three years before Whistling Rufus, which Mills composed in 1899.

Steve has added his own banjo arrangement to the MUSIC LIBRARY, but I found amongst my collection, an early arrangement of the solo by Charlie Rogers, which I have appended to Steve’s entry in the LIBRARY.

 

I know that Vess Ossman recorded the tune, but don’t have a copy of that record, but I do have one of Ruby Brooks playing “Happy Days in Dixie” that was recorded in 1905.

When you listen to Brooks playing the piece try whistling along with "Whistling Rufus"!

.. I wonder where Kerry Mills got his inspiration when he wrote Whistling Rufus????

It is a great tune and definitely one to go on the list of To Do's !!!

HAPPY DAYS IN DIXIE by RUBY BROOKS

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Yah, lots of similarities there!

No different than many composers, you create, change, recreate, adapt...and sometimes steal from yourself...

You can definitely hear the ghost of old Rufus whistling away in the background.It's still a worthy tune and deserves playing.. There is a chorus and I've added the words to the score should anyone feel inclined to sing along!....Steve. 

Ooh, I really like the banjo tone on this recording. Does anyone know what banjo Ruby Brooks played?

Ruby was at his height as a banjoist in the late 1880's and then recording very early on with Edison and others. I believe the photos I've seen were with Stewart instruments. Whether that was "product placement" or actual preference, I've no idea.

BTW, while rooting around for Reuben Brooks, I found a youtube recording of him playing "Darkey Tickle", anyone have a copy of the dots for that?

The reallyniceman wrote :

" . . . I wonder where Kerry Mills got his inspiration when he wrote Whistling Rufus????>"

Trapdoor2 wrote :

"  . . .No different than many composers, you create, change, recreate, adapt...and sometimes steal from yourself...

Ever notice that Tony Trischka's  New York Chimes "adapts", "borrows" or perhaps "quotes" the entire second strain of Happy Days in Dixie?.

I'd never heard Tony's "New York Chimes", but thanks to "Youtube", now I have! Indeed it is almost exactly as you say. Doesn't surprise me in the least, Tony has been playing Classic stuff since the 1970's (at least). One of his earliest banjo books (1974?) contained tab of "Yankee Land".

Back in 2006, I attended "Nashcamp" (a bluegrass banjo camp in Nashville) and brought both a minstrel banjo and my Flesher classic banjo. Tony played the Flesher in the concert...but used it for "nylon string jazz". Bill Evans played a couple of his classic pieces on it in the same concert.

Well, you know  what they say “You can’t keep a good song down”, and it really is a good song too. I think that I prefer it to “Whistling Rufus” and it is definitely worth a play!

I mentioned that I did not have a copy of Vess Ossman playing Happy Days, but as if by magic I received, by email, a superb MP3 of his playing that I would like to share with you.

Tell me that this is not brilliant!!! Thanks to my friend for sending this 1897 track for us to share:

HAPPY DAYS IN DIXIE by Vess Ossman

Some speculation: Ossman phrases the second part of this Banjo Solo a bit differently than Brooks, just enough to suggest the possible origins or inspiration for the melody. It is reminiscent of the song " I's Gwine Back To Dixie" which was published in the 1870s. 

I'm also speculating that the Ruby Brooks banjo sound is perhaps due to very light gauge strings.

Jody was previously commenting on the great tone from Ruby Brook’s banjo.

 

For those who haven’t read the Ruby Brooks biography on this website here is a little information about him:

 

The American, Ruby was born Ruben R. Brooks in Connecticut USA in 1861. 1887 saw him win the highest accolade of being crowned ‘Banjo Champion of the World’. By the 1890s Brooks had withdrawn from public performances and joined Edison Records to produce often more popular music and for a larger audience. Along with recording he worked as a music teacher until his early death, aged only 45 years, in 1906.

 

Well here is a rather Non-PC recording from him made around 1897.

COON SONG MEDLEY by Ruby Brooks

... and geez!! I would give an arm for that bass string sound… Boom !!!

Both recordings are good but I think Osman tops it by a mile. I did my arrangement straight from the piano score and midi, without the benefit of hearing the recordings and it pleases me to hear how similar some of the sections are. When my wife Gill finally gives me permission to put my paint brushes away (I've been decorating the house for about 6 weeks), it's going onto my playlist....Steve. 

I'm with you Steve. Ossman has a firmer grasp of the piece and plays with his characteristic authority. Regarding arrangement, I've found a number of his his recordings of pieces originally scored for piano, and never published for banjo ( that I'm aware of),  tend to follow the piano score (right hand) pretty closely.

I do like the Ossman version of "Happy Days..." better than the Brooks version. However, Mr. Brooks brings a seriously fluid Right Hand to "Coon Song Medley" that I'd give a lot to own. His articulations are as good as anyone's, ancient or modern. Amazing.

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