"Hi Marc, very good, I had to Google Pee-wee Herman before I saw the joke..Steve."
Classic-Banjo
A Site Dedicated to all enthusiasts of Classic Style Banjo
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Steve Harrison
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- Malvern, Worcestershire
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Steve Harrison's Discussions
Battle Creek..1897..Characteristic Two-Step, March or Polka...Paul Rubens.
2 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Steve Harrison yesterday.
Dance Of The Taffy Possums..1909..Harold Orlob
Started on Saturday
Lopez Rag (1918)...Joseph R. Lopez
Started Mar 18
Gifts Received (4)
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"I had no idea that Pee-Wee Herman was that old! ;-)"
Battle Creek..1897..Characteristic Two-Step, March or Polka...Paul Rubens.
This is the earliest known composition by Paul Rubens. It has a great melody with a very folksy feel. The title may have some connection with the town of Battle Creek in Michigan but that is not a certainty. The original piano score was in F/Bb, I've arranged it for banjo in G/C...Steve.See More
Dance Of The Taffy Possums..1909..Harold Orlob
Harold Orlob was a successful Composer, lyricist, director and film producer in the early part of the 20th. century. He wrote the scores to many successful Broadway musicals in the 1910s/20s. The title of this catchy novelty tune came from a short lived comic strip called Johnny and the Taffy Possums. Most of it is played out of first position and is not too challenging to play. I've lowered the second part by an octave as it better suits the banjo. Stylistically it's similar to what might be…See More
Lopez Rag (1918)...Joseph R. Lopez
This is a good quality, rare self published rag. The composer was of Cuban descent and lived in Memphis, Missouri, having moved there from new Orleans. He was the leader of a local orchestra. Lopez later moved back to new Orleans and died there in 1940..I found this lurking in my files and I can't remember if I've previously posted it so here it is again, just in case. I was unable to find a title page...Steve.See More
Ku-Lukum Rag..1909..Claude P. Christopher & Carl T. Williams
This is a very good example of a slow rag/drag. I could find no information about the composers nor the meaning of the tune title. To play the staccato notes in the second part, my suggested fingering is to play all the notes fretted...Steve.See More
"Walter Jacobs, at this time, published within the construct of club or orchestra playing and often the various parts would work together with each other. In some cases, such as this one, the banjo solo can be a little clunky while filling out…"
"Hi Joel, thanks for that, I took my arrangement from the piano score and have added lots of my own embellishments consequently it's more of a challenge to play than the version in Jacobs....Steve."
"This is in the Jacobs' Banjo Collection Vol. 6. I'd post it but the Archive seems to be having problems currently. "
Kentucky Wedding Knot..1908..A.W.Turner
This is a one off rag by a composer about whom I could find no information. It's a well written piece and contains snippets of Mendelssohn's Wedding March, Dixie and The Arkansas Traveler. I couldn't locate a title page...Steve. See More
Quality rag..1909..Ella Hudson Day
The composer was a pianist and writer of songs and rags and a lifelong resident of Texas. The piano score was written in C, my arrangement is in F as it better suits the banjo. I've located one other of her compositions which I will probably arrange in the future, I'm still searching for more of her tunes...SteveSee More
The Brownie Rag..An Original Stop Time Rag..1905.. Frank Wooster & Max Wilkins
This a very tuneful rag with plenty of variety. I've combined the piano RH and LH for the bass melodies in the first section and changed the key from G to C. Between 1905 and 1907 Frank Wooster published 12 tunes included four rags one of which, Black cat rag can be found in the Library. I could find no info about Max Wilkins...Steve.See More
An Alalabama Jubilee..1900..Cake Walk & Two Step..Ellis R.Ephraim.
This a well written Cake Walk and one that could have been written for banjo. I've mixed and matched the piano RH and LH from the piano score to create bass solos in parts 2,4 and 5. For the octave runs, my suggested fingering uses 2nd and 4th strings. I've found 17 published compositions by Epraim of which two are in the library. They are Moon Flower and The Dervishes patrol, both are worth a try. I will probably have a look at some of his others in due course...Steve.…See More
Boiled Owl Rag..1911...Margaret Woodin Couchie
This is a very well written one off rag by a composer about whom I could find no information. The title appears to come from the expression 'As drunk as a boiled owl', not something with which I'm familiar. To make it more banjo friendly, I've simplified the score somewhat. It's a good tune and worth a try...Steve.See More
Baby Blues..1917..Caroline Stark
The composer of this very catchy tune was the daughter in Law of the ragtime publisher, John Stark. I've written two arrangements, in the first one bars 25-25 are written in a high octave as in the piano score and in the second one I've lowered the octave which makes it less challenging to play. I've merged the scores into one PDF file so be careful that you don't get the page numbers mixed up between both versions. MP3s for both have now been uploaded....Steve.…See More
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.
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Comment Wall (16 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,
- 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,
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,
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…
- At 8:59am on September 19, 2012, thereallyniceman gave Steve Harrison a 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…
- 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
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