So how should Classic Style Banjo really sound?

[thereallyniceman]

A long time ago I was kindly sent a selection of recordings and I just been sorting through my heap filing system and discovered one solo that I thought that I would share one with you.

Beginners to Classic Style will, by now, have realized that “Our Hero” and probably the best composer for Classic banjo, was Mr. Joe Morley from the UK.  Morley composed hundreds of banjo solos and was also a superb banjo player.

 

Also over the years on this website there has been much heated discussion as to how “Classic Style” should actually sound.  I have always described the playing as “ dynamic” or “with attack” and recently Mike Moss described it as “with flair, beat and drive”.

 

Some coming to classic style banjo from more classical backgrounds have made their own interpretation of how they think the music should be performed or did sound.

 

Well, here is Joe Morley playing, so we can’t argue with our ears. He is playing a piece announced as The Butterfly, but it does not sound like Morley’s composition of the same title,  maybe someone can correct me?

 

With attack, with drive, with flair beat and drive?

 

THE BUTTERFLY played by JOE MORLEY

 

…  what do you think?

 

[Mike Moss]

Thanks Ian and Ian's friend, the cleaned up recordings are simply amazing. They're much easier on the ears and the tone comes through beautifully.

Re: Yankee Glide, I'd be surprised if it was Shuffle along as it doesn't ressemble that solo in the least!

[thereallyniceman]

Thanks Mike, I will pass on the praise for you!

Richard Ineson has very kindly sent me a copy of  the score for Morley's "The Butterfly".

It is believed that this score copy was produced by Charles Mansell from Morley's original manuscript.

I have added the score to the PHOTOS section and will add it to the MUSIC LIBRARY at a later date.

THE BUTTERFLY  by Joe Morley

[Jody Stecher]

Wow, thank you Ian and his Really Nice Anonymous Friend. Now that I can hear what is happening in Yankee Glide, figuring out what is being played is within reach, though still difficult as it is a very strange little tune.  Richard, if you ever remember the real title to which Yankee Glide was changed for publication please let the forum know. Sheet music sure would help figure this out.  Marc Dalmasso posted a video here of Shuffle Along (an excellent performance on a great sounding banjo *with* a resonator) and I've consulted the dots at the Library and it is a different tune. 

[Richard William Ineson]

My apologies for misleading you, Shuffle Along was called American Glide originally and I got confused, for a change. It came to me whilst I was dozing in the greenhouse this afternoon, the solo I was really thinking about was A Banjo Diversion, but not having played or heard anybody else play this for about thirty years, I may be getting this mixed up with another tune - I seem to remember that the first two movements of ABD are the same as Yankee Glide but Joe seems to play a different trio on this recording, with many frightening chromatics. The trio to ABD has quite a nice bass solo and is a bit more accessible. I'll see if my memory improves overnight, I may remember where this trio came from, and I might also be able to lay my hands on my reading glasses, telephone, today's paper, dog, walking stick, oh and where's my banjo gone to?

Jody Stecher said:

Wow, thank you Ian and his Really Nice Anonymous Friend. Now that I can hear what is happening in Yankee Glide, figuring out what is being played is within reach, though still difficult as it is a very strange little tune.  Richard, if you ever remember the real title to which Yankee Glide was changed for publication please let the forum know. Sheet music sure would help figure this out.  Marc Dalmasso posted a video here of Shuffle Along (an excellent performance on a great sounding banjo *with* a resonator) and I've consulted the dots at the Library and it is a different tune. 

[Jody Stecher]

I mislead myself daily, no apologies are due and great thanks are due you from me because YES, the first section of A Banjo Diversion is very much the same as the corresponding part in Yankee Glide. After that the two pieces seem to go off in different directions. A Banjo Diversion is easier to grab hold of mentally whereas Yankee Glide is  —mental.