Comment by Jody Stecher on October 5, 2014 at 22:15

Trimming a false start on a video is usually quick and easy. Not this time. Here's the whole thing, hung-down head and all. "Life In Louisiana" was composed by Emil Grimshaw. It doesn't seem to be well known. I like it.

Comment by thereallyniceman on October 6, 2014 at 6:52

Whooo-Hooo, What a great tune that is. I haven't heard this Grimshaw piece before and I particularly love the Trio. It is good to see "real" playing, who cares about the hiccup at the start?

Really good Jody... keep them coming.

A special thank you goes to Mr Stefanelli too, for the magnificent sounding and looking banjo :-)

Comment by Steve Harrison on October 6, 2014 at 8:49

Hi Jody, A great performance of one of my favourite Grimshaw tunes. It was the second tune I learned when I started playing classic style and this is the first time I've heard it played by anyone other than myself. My left hand playing differs slightly in parts from the way you play it but It's good to see I got most of it right....and that banjo is something else!.....Steve.

Comment by Jody Stecher on October 6, 2014 at 14:35

Thanks, fellers. When it comes to classic banjo, I don't think I am an appropriate model for doing it right, but thanks all the same. My own left hand also differs from what I played on this occasion. I do it differently each time, especially the ascending passage in the second part.  Of course the postion-based parts can only be played one way. We've been having a heat wave in San Francisco and my Stefanelli banjo loves this for some reason. It is sounding especially resonant in this hot weather.

Comment by thereallyniceman on October 6, 2014 at 15:09

How strange that you mention a difference in sound (tone) in good weather. Our handbells (YES, Handbells for those who don't already know that I also run a Handbell Ringing team!)

sound completely different and more "vibrant" , with more sustain in times of high atmospheric pressure... just like Stefanelli banjos :-)

The answer.. all move to San Francisco !

Comment by Jody Stecher on October 6, 2014 at 15:29

San Francisco, especially the western part where I live, is usually fogged in and chilly. Visitors from all over the world come in short pants and short sleeves, expecting "sunny california" but that is to be found inland and to the south.  Mark Twain had it right when he said "the coldest winter of my life was a summer in San Francisco." Late September and early October is our warm season but that usually means 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. But this week the city has been in the 90s and surrounding areas are mostly over 100 degrees. Not all my instruments are responding to the heat but the Stefanelli "Tuber Foam" certainly is. 

Why do the bell ringers wear gloves? Is this function or fashion?

Comment by thereallyniceman on October 6, 2014 at 15:44

Function indeed, Jody!

The bells are precision tuned at the factory and should only be cleaned with the mildest abrasive polish and then when only absolutely necessary. Polishing out fingermarks (caused by sweat) can de-tune the bell and they are not re-tuneable :-(

 A bell like the one that I am playing would cost around $1000 to replace... hence the gloves !!

Comment by Jody Stecher on October 6, 2014 at 16:00

How would holding the bells by the (plastic?) handles leave marks on the bell itself? 

I think Life In Louisiana would sound very good played by a hand bell team.

Comment by thereallyniceman on October 6, 2014 at 16:42

Ah Jody.. you have much to learn about handbell ringing ;-)

There are techniques where the bell is damped by hand to give a staccato sound so it is inevitable that the bells will get marked if gloves are not worn.

Banjo tunes on handbells? I will see what our team can do in the New Year. We are practising Christmas music at the moment for our Christmas concerts.

Comment by Jody Stecher on October 6, 2014 at 16:43

I knew there was a good reason. Now I get it.

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