Steve Harrison
  • Male
  • Malvern, Worcestershire
  • United Kingdom
Share on Facebook MySpace

Steve Harrison's Friends

  • Rob Mairs
  • Adrien Le Gallo
  • Tracy-Ann Grosvenor
  • Tony Mear
  • Roy Manning
  • John Mullen
  • Rob Webb
  • Jocko MacNelly
  • Simon Robinson
  • F. Chris Ware
  • steven tarner
  • carrie horgan
  • Rick Hadley
  • julian egan
  • Eddie Young

Steve Harrison's Discussions

 

Steve Harrison's Page

Latest Activity

Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Colored Ragamuffins..1903..S.R.Henry.

This is a great cakewalk that ideally suits the banjo, it could almost have been written for it. The piano score is written in F/Bb but I've arranged it in G/C as it's an easier key in which to play the bass solos. Steve.See More
Tuesday
Steve Harrison replied to Austin 's discussion How many people actually play this style?
"I must be one of the 20 UK classic banjo players mentioned by Richard. I didn't realize there were so few of us. I do teach banjo and at the moment I'm teaching Will Thomas who is making good progress, he is a classical guitarist and has…"
Monday
Steve Harrison replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Ole Virginny Barbeque..1899..Julius E. Andino
"Hi Ethan, many thanks for your comment, Andino's choice to call this a cakewalk was probably reflecting the popularity of cakewalks at the time in the same way that some of the other composers of popular music called their tunes rags when many…"
Mar 2
Ethan Schwartz replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Ole Virginny Barbeque..1899..Julius E. Andino
"Interesting! Some of the rhythms/harmonies are outside of what I would consider typical of a cakewalk, but it works. "
Mar 2
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Ole Virginny Barbeque..1899..Julius E. Andino

Julius Andino was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the US in 1870 to further his musical career. He was a prolific composer and arranger, in particular for silent movies. This excellent early cake walk has a distinctly Latin influence reflecting the composers nationality. Rhythmically it is very Habanera like in some sections. The piano score was written Bb/Eb, I've arranged it C/F. I've not yet managed to find any more of Andino's scores....Steve.…See More
Mar 1
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Dat Johnson Rag..1910..An Ethiopian Intermezzo. C. E. Matchett & N.Clark Smith.

This is probably the best of my recent ragtime offerings and well worth try. Calbert Earl Matchett was a piano salesman and demonstrator from Wichita and Nathaniel Clark Smith was a distinguished African American military and civilian bandleader working mainly in Kansas City and Chicago. The piano score was written Eb/Bb/Ab, my arrangement is written G/D/C as this better fits with the banjo. My suggested fingering features elements of melodic style...Steve.…See More
Feb 25
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Peach Blossoms..1910..Maud Gilmore

This two step is another well written tune from MG and follows my previously posted 'Splinters' which was also written by her. I've added some significant amendments in the second part to keep the music flowing. Her sister Mary was also a musician and wrote Electric Rag which can be found in the library and is worth a look and play...Steve.See More
Feb 24
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Cleopatra Finnegan (An Afro Celtic Intermezzo) 1905..Neil Moret aka Charles N.Daniels.

This is a well written 'novelty' tune which, as the title suggests, I would describe as cakewalk meets the Irish! I've done a significant amount of rewriting and amending to arrive at what I think is a very good  banjo solo. The piano score was in G/C  but C/F better fits the banjo. It has plenty of variety including a nice bass solo in the trio...Steve. See More
Feb 20
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Rhapsody Rag..1911..Bud Leroy Cross

This is a very well composed rag by a composer who  had only 5 published pieces of music. Cross was a jobbing musician who led a small dance band and played at venues around Ohio. I've removed one repeat and added the opening section as the finale. My suggested fingering includes elements of melodic style playing...Steve.See More
Feb 17
Steve Harrison replied to Adam Tracksler's discussion Looking for opinions on this Gatcomb
"You are right to be concerned, the hole through which the string passes often has sharp edges which can cut a nylon string, on the occasions that I have fitted nylon, I've used a round pin file to put a smooth chamfer around the hole...Steve."
Feb 13
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

The Oliver Twist..1916..Otto Fessler

I could find no information regarding the composer other than a few other pieces of music composed by him. This is a well written tune that works well on the banjo. I suppose it could described as a one step.The piano score is written in Eb/Ab, I've arranged it in G/C to better fit the banjo. I've been unable to find a title page...Steve.See More
Feb 9
Joel Hooks replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Olga..1912..Charles F.Gall..Humoresque 7..1894..A.Dvorak
"And here is an arrangement by Hildreth, not as good as Olly's IMO but still serviceable.  https://archive.org/details/jacobs-banjo-collection-vol-6/page/n13/mode/1up"
Feb 6
Joel Hooks replied to Steve Harrison's discussion Olga..1912..Charles F.Gall..Humoresque 7..1894..A.Dvorak
"Cool!  I love this sort of thing. FWIW, here is Olly's arrangement: <iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/humoreske-anton-dvorak-arr-olly-oakley" width="560" height="384" frameborder="0"…"
Feb 6
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Olga..1912..Charles F.Gall..Humoresque 7..1894..A.Dvorak

Two for the price of one. Olga is a cleverly written syncopated version of Dvorak's Humoresque number 7. Gall has wrongly given it the alternative title of Russian Rag as Dvorak was a Czech. In my arrangement, Olga is  first on the score followed by my arrangement of Humoresque. They're both fun tunes to play and it works well as a solo if they're played one after the other...Steve.…See More
Feb 5
Steve Harrison posted a discussion

Kentucky Rag..1917..Marcella Henry

Marcella Henry was an associate of Axel Christensen and taught piano at his teaching schools in Chicago. I'm not keen on Christensen's style of ragtime as I find it too formulaic but this well written tune breaks the mould. I've made some significant changes to the piano score in the second part bars 21 to 23  and 25 to 26 and in the trio bars 55 to 61. I play the slurs after the grace notes as pull offs and hammer ons.(snaps and slurs)...Steve.See More
Feb 2
Steve Harrison posted discussions
Jan 26

Profile Information

Steve Harrison

Hi all, Just a bit about myself. I live in the beautiful town of Malvern in Worcestershire, England. I have been playing classic and melodic style banjo for more years than I care to recall. I play an Alfred Weaver banjo made around 1903 and a Windsor popular made 1914ish. As well as banjo, my other instrument is piano accordion, not very fashionable these days but great for playing tradtional music, my main passion. I play occasionally for local Morris Dance sides arround Malvern. Having reached the grand old age of 60, I am semi retired which leaves me more time for my music and my other love, my two grandchildren. I'm about to start teaching my 7 year old grandson the Uke as an entry into greater things. If there are any other players in or near my location, please make contact...Steve.

Steve Harrison's Photos

  • Add Photos
  • View All

Comment Wall (15 comments)

At 6:35 on December 29, 2010, Sylvia said…
Hi Steve, I'm a bit nearer to you than Rob, but still a longish way away , I'm on the Isle of Wight.    Was interested to read that you played for Morris. I am a member of the local Oyster Girls Ladies Morris team.  Might just bump into you at one of the Folk Festivals , don't yet know which ones we are doing this year though.   All the Best.  Sylvia.
At 8:57 on December 30, 2010, Sylvia said…
Hi Steve,the oyster girls were at Upton last year. I am only a beginner at Banjo and have found this site very helpful. I have also had a few lessons with Rob over the internet, great stuff this new technology. Will look out for you at any Festivals I go to. I have heard Rochester mentioned for this coming year. All the best. Sylvia
At 17:49 on February 8, 2012, Alan Sims said…

hi Steve ,ive just had my clifford essex frets redressed and set up .it sounds lovely and so much easier to play .ive got medium gauge strings .ive been playing about a year .would i be ready for a heavier set ,and would this change the action .how often sould change them i practice every day' regards Alan

At 17:56 on February 8, 2012, Alan Sims said…

how often should i change strings i practice every day regards Alan

At 20:13 on March 4, 2012, Tim Walsh said…

Hi Steve,

 

I've only recently been made aware of Classic Banjo through meeting another member David Greenwood.

I've only been playing a relatively short while and have been learning bluegrass.

I'm looking to broaden my playing skills in to claw hammer and Classic styles and from what I've seen of the tutorials on this site so far I think I'm in the right place.

 

 

 

 

 

At 7:31 on May 21, 2012, Mike Redman said…

Hi Steve, have you thought about transposing/arranging A Ragtime Dance (Scott Joplin) for the banjo, I was listening to it the other day, now can't get the tune off of my mind!

At 10:35 on June 20, 2012, Alan Sims said…

thanks for the tip Steve, that makes sence.three lines above .E. cheers.

At 11:13am on August 28, 2012, Alan Sims gave Steve Harrison a gift
Gift
Thanks Steve.It sounds great.
At 8:59am on September 19, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a gift
Gift
I would personally like to thank Steve for all the work he has done on producing new arrangements for Classic Banjo and making them available for us all. Check out all his scores in the MUSIC LIBRARY.
At 4:23pm on November 30, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a gift
Gift
Thank you to Steve for all the arrangements and contributions. I can't say how old he is as I can't count that high :-) HAPPY BIRTHDAY

You need to be a member of Classic-Banjo to add comments!

Join Classic-Banjo

 
 
 

© 2025   Created by thereallyniceman.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service