Who were the Bickfords?

[thereallyniceman]

In the previous post John Cohen asked about Cormac E McConnor. A Welsh banjoist who I have never heard of..sorry,  but he mentioned he became friends with Z.M. Bickford.

By coincidence site member Daniel Bradbury sent me a score for the MUSIC LIBRARY by a composer called Myron A Bickford.

Also in my composer database I have another composer listed as Zarh Myron Bickford.

Anyone know about the Bickford (s) ?  Were there two Myron Bickfords?

Daniel's score is now in the MUSIC LIBRARY.. thank you Daniel.

[Trapdoor2]

Zahr Myron Bickford and Vahdah Olcott-Bickford. A great write-up here: http://harpguitars.net/blog/2014/07/the-vahdah-olcott-bickford-coll...

Yes, they both changed their first names. Myron moved his first to the middle and adopted "Zahr"

 

[Jody Stecher]

Myron Bickford was an American multi-instrumentalist. He is most known these days for his excellent published mandolin methods. He married Ethel Lucretia Olcott, a renowned guitarist and guitar instructor. Once married they changed their names to Zarh and Vaddah. They were astrologists and presumably numerologists as well because the fanciful names were apparently based on their presumed numerological auspiciousness, This would indicate that the spelling was more important to them than the pronunciation. That dissipates any anxiety about how to pronounce the H in Zarh,

I remember reading something connecting Zarh Myron Bickford with American classic banjo players, and…..maybe…..Fred Van Eps in particular. Perhaps it was in an old issue of 5-Stringer, the ABF journal.

 Maybe A was the first letter of Myron's middle name in the early days before Myron became his middle name and Zarh his first name. 

Here's an early photo of Myron Bickford with 5-string banjo, guitar, and a mandolin in the shape of a guitar.

[Jody Stecher]

Here's the happy couple in their typical everyday clothes.

[Daniel Bradbury]

Thank you for the great and detailed information. I have toyed with the Valse a number of times over the years and it seems to be the first tune I'm determined to do right this time around.

[Jody Stecher]

It seems her name appeared in print variously as Vadah, Vahdah, and Vaddah. They can't have been equally auspicious I suppose. And I don't know which is correct.

[Trapdoor2]

In the photo I posted, all of the handwriting is Vahdah's...presumably, she got it right. ;-)

[Trapdoor2]

Ooooohhh. I just noticed a name on that first picture. A.H.N Kennedy (seated on right)...composer of quite a few great banjo tunes like "Galop De Concert" and "Colorado Buck Dance"!

[John Cohen]

ZM Bickford was vice president of the ABF, wasn't he?  He was also a columnist for Cadenza.  He knew Van Eps since they both ended up in Los Angeles.  

[thereallyniceman]

Daniel, Would this help with your practice?

Autumn Idyll on a Weaver Banjo

Daniel Bradbury said:

Thank you for the great and detailed information. I have toyed with the Valse a number of times over the years and it seems to be the first tune I'm determined to do right this time around.

[Daniel Bradbury]

Thank you so much, Ian,

It's helpful to hear some of the places I have mis-read a couple of chords in the first part.  I have it mostly down, now working on my intonation and speed.  Also correcting bad fingering I adopted many years ago (that is the difficult part of the process).