Ossman's Darkey Volunteer

[Shawn McSweeny]

 

Here is Vess L. Ossman’s 1898 recording, and his arrangement, of “The Darkey Volunteer”, whose title refers to the volunteers signing up during the Spanish American war.

The piano score was published in the US the same year and was “Dedicated  to Vess L. Ossman, America’s greatest banjoist”.

The composer was Fred Hylands, a top ragtime key-tinkler and the “house” pianist at Columbia Records, playing for the studio’s soloists from about 1897 to 1904.  Hylands is likely in the backing ensemble on this piece and the piano accompanist heard on other Ossman Columbia recordings from this period. He obviously knew Ossman and thought highly of him.

The banjo score, published a few years later in England, ignored Hylands and falsely credited Ossman as composer (now corrected ). 

Ossman’s great phrasing, power and precision are evident but sadly, even after restoration, sound quality is wanting. The accompaniment floats in and out, but far worse is the throbbing regularity of the surface/player noise which, for much of the piece, sounds like Teddy Roosevelt and all of his Rough Riders are galloping past the mike. 

 

Ossman Plays THE DARKEY VOLUNTEER

A digital playback of the score is also provided for a clearer rendering of the melody.

THE DARKEY VOLUNTEER Score Playback

The score is provided in standard notation and corresponding TAB, plus a TAB arrangement in melodic style .

[Joel Hooks]

[Joel Hooks]

It is a good piece IMHO.  I like the clips.  I also like the stroke style rhythm in the A part.

[Shawn McSweeny]

Thanks for uploading the journal portrait gallery..

I agree it's a good piece, and played so well by Ossman he makes it sound easy, which it is not.

Look for another, more subdued Ossman score, originally published by Stewart, in coming days.