This is a good example of an early cake walk, it makes a very playable banjo solo and is another of those 'could have been written for banjo' tunes. Morrison published around 30 pieces of his self penned music but he was also known for the arranging of other composers' music and he was one of the key players in the promotion of ragtime music. The score and midi are in the library...Steve.

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This was published (1892) in A notation and tab by Brooks and Denton's "Banjo Collection #1", one of the very first classic-era books I ever saw/purchased. The tab is rudimentary but a big leap forward from Dobson's and Stewart's. I can actually sight read from it. Joel has uploaded the B&D collection to the internet archive here: https://archive.org/details/BrooksAndDentonBanjoNo1/page/n23/mode/2up

Later, this was published by W.J.Smith with FVE credited for the arrangement of B&D's arrangement (an arrangement of an arrangement?). Then, the next version I have is what appears to be a literal "cut 'n' paste" copy of the FVE arrangement...taking up 4 pages (with only 4 staves per page), probably due to the schoolboy cut 'n' paste job.

It is a great tune and another job well done!

Thanks Marc, I'll have a look at the B&D version, you can't have too many arrangements of a good tune..Steve.

Trapdoor2 said:

This was published (1892) in A notation and tab by Brooks and Denton's "Banjo Collection #1", one of the very first classic-era books I ever saw/purchased. The tab is rudimentary but a big leap forward from Dobson's and Stewart's. I can actually sight read from it. Joel has uploaded the B&D collection to the internet archive here: https://archive.org/details/BrooksAndDentonBanjoNo1/page/n23/mode/2up

Later, this was published by W.J.Smith with FVE credited for the arrangement of B&D's arrangement (an arrangement of an arrangement?). Then, the next version I have is what appears to be a literal "cut 'n' paste" copy of the FVE arrangement...taking up 4 pages (with only 4 staves per page), probably due to the schoolboy cut 'n' paste job.

It is a great tune and another job well done!

I'll have to disagree Marc, while they share a title, they are very different pieces. 

Van Eps...

https://archive.org/details/vanepsbanjosolos/page/n27/mode/2up

I think the spaced out version is from Clifford Essex and follows the B&D dotted rhythm. 

Founding member of the ABF Alex Magee made an arrangement if the B&D version set in a minor key and recorded it, the ABF has his manuscript of this and I think the recording can be found on this site.

Harry Denton was the first ABF president and many of Ruby Brooks' pieces were standards with that crew.  Brooks was one of the few successful classic ear "ear players" that we know of.  It is my understanding that while he composed this (and other pieces) it was "arranged" because Denton had to write it out. 

I didn't actually look hard at the music so, mea culpa...I assumed they were the same piece.

Ok, now I've looked deeper. Yup, different tune from the Morrison piece.

The FVE/B&D version is simply a "straightened out and FVE-'tripletized' " version of the dotty B&D version. Since the B&D version says it was "arr. for Banjo and Piano by Brooks and Denton", I now wonder who wrote the original?

See attached for an mp3 of the dotty Brooks and Denton version. I'll upload the FVE re-arrangement after I get some chores done. Oops....edit: the mp3 is transposed up to C/F (C notation from A notation).

And finally, yes, the CE arrangement is essentially the old dotty B&D transposed up to C notation with positions, slurs and a few other minor alterations. Still looks like a bad cut 'n' paste job to me. ;-)

Trapdoor2 said:

I didn't actually look hard at the music so, mea culpa...I assumed they were the same piece.
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Here's the mp3 of FVE's arrangement.

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And...

I found yet another piece titled "Jolly Darkies", by Karl Bechter from 1903. Nope, not the same as the other two. Could easily be arranged for banjo... Here's an mp3.

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Alex Magee's recording is in the "original recordings" on this site.  I believe Ossman recorded it commercially but I have not seen a copy.

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