I'm interested in what were the most popular classic banjo tunes during the golden age of classic banjo (1880s to 1920).  I am particularly interested in tunes written specifically for the banjo.  I am thinking we could establish most popular by: most played in banjo orchestras/BMG clubs; most frequently recorded; most copies of sheet music sold; anecdotal evidence.  From what I have read this might include:

Lansing's Dream

Banjotown 

Sunflower Dance

In a nerdy fashion, I would quite like to make a TOP TEN in chronological order.  Just for fun. 

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That "Whistling Rufus" was popular is not in dispute.  What is in question is how popular it was with 5 string banjoists before the "Ragtime Piano Revival" of the 1970s, which is where I think the popularity with US banjoists came from.

The extant CE published version (with incomplete trio) is the same format that the English recordings follow (example Olly Oakley).

In the US we all play an arrangement from the piano score that includes the full trio.

Absent are any "period" arrangements published in the US.  Also absent are manuscript arrangements for 5 string banjo or mention of the piece in published programs.

I can happily provide a list of the popular pieces that make up the "list of standards" today (all which will be heard at the rally at the end of this month and include WR).  But that is not the question.

The current list has been influenced by many things not limited to the internet access and esp. the aforementioned "Ragtime Piano Revival" of the 1970s.  The Shakey's Pizza/Your Father's Mustache fad no doubt had influence as well.  That current list is also shifting.  "Freckles" has become a very popular jam piece that one might not have heard at ABF rallies past for informal jamming.

Reading "Stewart Journals," "Gatcomb Gazette,"  "Cadenza," and "Crescendo" (which makes up the majority of my reading lately) there are articles about what people are playing.  In the later publications much of the space devoted to 5 string banjo is written with nostalgia for the 1880-90s and it is often mentioned that during that time pieces written on and for the banjo were popular and that "now" (post 1900) people are playing popular standards (not composed for but arranged for the banjo).

Titles mentioned include the two George Lansing pieces (always) the Babb piece, as well as "E. M. Hall's Blue Ribbon March" and others. "Invincible Guard March" is sometimes mentioned.  "Weston's Minor Jig" shows up frequently in late 19th century programs and I have almost a dozen different arrangements of this (some with various Dobson family members as the composers).

The timeline Carrie gives spans more than one generation and was likely changing all the time with a few pieces being contestant. 

CE and English publications/pieces in the US is an interesting discussion.  CE advertised in US publications and we have discussed in the past how they published some solos in A notation.

Younger players like Frank Bradbury often mentioned how much they liked the music coming out of England and would mention composers.  Grimshaw and Essex both wrote articles for US publications.  Even the older generation of banjoists like Thomas Armstrong and George Lansing mentioned support for English music in their regular article "The Banjoist's Roundtable" in the "Crescendo."  And Shirley Spaulding recorded "Danse Arlequin."

Heck, Alfred Weaver advertised his banjos in US magazines.

That said, I think it was too late for the US.  Mandolins, Tenor, and pick playing took over.  The tastes changed too.  The paying public did not want to sit and listen to banjo recitals, they wanted to dance to popular music and commercial bands and orchestras were the order of the day. 

While the die-hard classic banjoists played English music (FVE mentions Morley in his "Hobbies" interview and I have heard recordings of him playing Morley plus there is manuscript in his hand of arrangements), those are the freaks that fill the exception rule.

Years ago, I bought the sheet-music collection of Stella Ives, a student of Lansing's and active player from the 1890s thru 1960s. Her collection had 4 copies of "Darkies Dream" in it. One copy is obviously played nearly to death as it is in tatters, taped and retaped, etc.

She had quite a bit of Morley and Grimshaw. No copies of "WR" ;-) Just based on wear and tear, I would say she liked "Cromartie", Lansing's "Darkies" stuff, "Lancashire Clogs", "Mill Dam" and a couple of others I cannot recall.

I guess I could do a survey and judge them by the quantity of dirt and finger smudges (indicating use). All packed away at the moment, 8 months to retirement!


Being part of the "evidence based community",  as a former high ranking official of a former American presidential staff dismissively characterized sane people,  I can easily accept that there was not American sheet music for banjo for WR until long after Carrie's specified period.  But given the enormous number of times it was recorded, especially in the UK, common sense suggests that all the banjo players who recorded it must have learned it somewhere, somehow.  I don't know the date for the CE 3 part version but it looks newer than the very early 1900s when so many versions were recorded.  This leads to another question.  Who bought banjo records?  What percentage of those who bought them played banjo themselves?  

I'm sure we could track down when it WR published by finding the announcement in the BMG (thanks Ian!).

I also don't dispute that it was popular in England.

Since I am a nerd, when I first joined the ABF and tasked myself with learning the standards I tried to find a "period" banjo arrangement," no luck.

Marc, I have found "Darkie's Dream" more times than I can count in stacks of music.  I have even found it (for banjo) in random junk shop stacks of piano music.  Heck, it was in print for something like 20 or more years.

Thanks for the input so far.  I will add 'On the Mill Dam Galop' to my list!  I have been looking in the 'BMG notes' section of the BMG magazines to see what was being played in banjo concerts/recitals in the UK.  It looks like WR was being played in England in the earliest editions (Smoky Mokes is also being played).  There are gaps but it looks like in 2011 Lancashire Clogs, The Kilties and also Home Sweet Home were popular pieces.  

I was going to suggest Smoky Mokes for USA and Lancashire Clogs for UK. But what's that about 2011?

carrie horgan said:

Thanks for the input so far.  I will add 'On the Mill Dam Galop' to my list!  I have been looking in the 'BMG notes' section of the BMG magazines to see what was being played in banjo concerts/recitals in the UK.  It looks like WR was being played in England in the earliest editions (Smoky Mokes is also being played).  There are gaps but it looks like in 2011 Lancashire Clogs, The Kilties and also Home Sweet Home were popular pieces.  

Did I really type 2011?! I meant 1911.  Is this what happens when you go down the BMG rabbit hole.  I might wake up at the Henley Regatta being entertained by a troop of banjo playing Pierrots!  That would be nice.

Actually, a list like that is exactly what I'm looking for. Both American and English. But maybe I should start a new thread for that?

Joel Hooks said:

I can happily provide a list of the popular pieces that make up the "list of standards" today (all which will be heard at the rally at the end of this month and include WR).  But that is not the question.

I would add "Tyro Mazurka" to the list. It appears to have been popular over here and over there...

Some tunes were so popular that they were almost required fodder for any tutor. "Home Sweet Home and Variations" was probably the early #1 across all tutors. Early on, you see a lot of operatic transcriptions (esp. Gilbert and Sullivan) but those sort of die out by the 1890's.

Years ago, I went with Bill Talley's list of "ABF Standards" from his website. Stuff like "Pink Lemonade", "WR", "Smoky Mokes", etc. I believe his website is no longer out there but it was a good list to get under your belt.

I also got a "UK" list from someone somewhere. It included stuff like "Glitter of Steel", "Man The Guns", etc. Fun stuff!

... and don't forget Spanish Fandango.

In order to bring some "order" to rallies there are two "lists" of pieces that are good to know.

The first list are "group numbers" and these are pieces that we play together during the round robin.  When someone is interested in attending their first rally I recommend they try to learn as many of these as they can.  There are two that I would call fairly difficult but the rest are playable.  By knowing these the overall experience is heightened as you will be able to play something with anyone in the room.

http://banjofraternity.org/group-numbers.html

Of the list I would say "Smiler" and "Footlight Favorite" are the most difficult. 

There is a second list that has a lot more pieces on it for jamming.  Since I have been attending rallies I have noticed that list change with some additions that have been played more often.  I'll try to work that up later.

Keep in mind that the ABF was founded as a sort of fan club for Fred Van Eps and many of the "standards" are things he recorded or liked to play at rallies.  This list would not represent the average banjoist of the 1880-1900.

This list was also influenced by members like Walter K. Baur, Frank Bradbury, Bill Bowen, Alex Magee, etc., which were all professional banjoists at one time.  Bradbury encouraged playing English music.

Spanish Flang Dang. I play that!  Yeah, Smiler and Foot are definitely difficult. For me anyway. But really good pieces. The Smiler was one of the tunes that first attracted me to Classic banjo. I think it also makes a great brass band tune.

Joel Hooks said:

... and don't forget Spanish Fandango.

Of the list I would say "Smiler" and "Footlight Favorite" are the most difficult. 

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