Another hit song composed by Kerry Mills, this one published in 1899. At the Saturday night concert of the 1988 Tennessee Banjo Institute in Murfreesboro, TN, Dan Sinclair, Clarke Buehling (both playing the lead), and I gave this performance of the tune. Tim Brown recorded it while sitting in the audience. Sitting next to him were a few other classic fingerstyle banjo players, who were well aware that Dan had started this piece too fast and that it was only getting faster as we went along. The noises they were making were because they were expecting us to crash at any moment. Surprisingly, we didn’t, and we got a standing ovation at the end. It was kind of an historic moment, since most in the audience had never heard anything like this before. I was actually reading the second part from the music sitting on my knee.

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Comment by Trapdoor2 on June 24, 2010 at 12:58
Whistling Rufus is one of those tunes I generally have trouble with keeping the reins taught. The A part is no problem but I tend to speed up just a bit in the B part and then the C part wants to go like a freight-train...so when you return to A...its a trainwreck. This is one of the tunes I'd like to sneak away and play at AEGB III. I was reading my way thru the 2nd last night while my computer played the 1st.
Comment by Bob Winans on June 24, 2010 at 16:04
The reason you cannot see my fingers moving, Rob, is that we played the whole piece within the instant in which the photo was taken. I had to put the audio into a music editing program and stretch it out so that you could hear it at all.
Comment by Trapdoor2 on June 24, 2010 at 17:30
Reminds me of the first time I had to play a "round robin" jam. By the time they got to me, I was so excited that I started my tune at warp speed. When I looked up, the jam leader said, "Marc, you think you could slow that down a bit? We can't catch you!" Man, was I embarassed...

I wish I had known about the TBI in '88. I went to it in '92 and it was the first time I ever heard Classic Banjo played...still have the hook in my mouth!
Comment by Bob Winans on June 28, 2010 at 16:40
Marc---You mentioned that "Whistling Rufus" would be one of the tunes you would like to "sneak away and play at AEBG." I will brush up on that tune so that I can join you. What other tunes you would like to do? Other people on this list who will be attending AEBG should also feel free to make suggestions.

I was at TBI in 1988 and 1990, but, although scheduled to teach at the 1992 TBI, I had to miss it because of a gall bladder operation.

Banjovially, Bob
Comment by Trapdoor2 on June 28, 2010 at 18:40
Hi Bob,

Yes, currently Carl, Joel and I are planning to try "WR" (Marc, 1st Bjo), "Calliope Rag" (Carl, 1st Bjo) and something out of the Stewart Journal (Joel, 1st Bjo). That way we all at least get a chance to play 1st and 2nd parts for something. If you send me your email addy, I'll be happy to put you on our 'offline' email list. I've just been sending the parts around, etc. We don't want to completely take over AEBG III, but we're all starving for Classic-Banjo ensemble work and we're all gonna be there...

Certainly, if anyone wants to participate, please send me a note and I'll send out the sheet music (dots or TAB, I have both).
Comment by Adam on June 28, 2010 at 23:30
I hope you'll be taking videos of the CB portion of AEBG III!
Comment by Greg Adams on June 30, 2010 at 15:32
If I am at AEBG III (which I fully intend), can I play with you guys too?
Comment by Trapdoor2 on June 30, 2010 at 16:07
Hi Greg,

I'll put you on the list...and send you the dots, etc., tonight. The more the merrier, I say!

I think I'm going to simply upload all the dots & tab to my homepage here, that way they'll be accessible to all at any time.

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