Albert Baur...

[Trapdoor2]

So, I just did a google search on "baur banjo" and found some interesting tidbits. The American National Archives has 28 pieces of sheet music available for online viewing/download. Go here: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/mussmhtml/mussmhome.html and search for "baur".

Also, the "Canning Banjo Collection" has Baur's personal scrapbook on hand. http://www.usd.edu/smm/canning.html

Of course, there are the Stewart Journal collections out on the rochester.edu site...Baur is a common contributor to those august pages.

[Trapdoor2]

Hi gang,

I have just received two issues of "Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal" (No. 81, Apr/May 1894 and No. 85, Dec '94/Jan '95). Mr. Baur has a page or two in each and they are both gems of 19th cent. "magazine warfare". In No. 85, Mr. Baur takes on the "so-called" "Zither Banjo"...and does not give it much more credit than something he might scrape off of his shoe. They use steel strings! Gad! I shall not bore you with his rant but I did LOL at the final paragraph of his diatribe:

"In my last letter I spoke of a young man whose sole ambition was to become a musical critic, and his failure to "set the world afire." Since my letter was published I have read in the newspapers that this young man has been elected to a seat in Congress. This ought to encourage "Zither Banjo" makers and players, "closed-back" banjo freaks, and "simple method" cranks. They can have the satisfaction of knowing that, even if they cannot become banjo makers and players, they have a fighting chance of being elected to Congress. For my part, I believe I would rather be a fourth rate banjo player than a first-class Congressman."

I must note that in one paragraph he mentions arranging and playing a variety of classical pieces as early as 1865-1870. He lists arrangements for Beethoven's sonate Pathetique opus 13, Marcia Funebre from sonate opus 26, "March " Vivace movement in sonate opus 101, Allegro Vivace 3rd variation sonate opus 109 and "other selections" from Mozart, Handel, Meyerbeer, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Abt, Schuman, Schubert, including the overtures from "The Bohemian Girl", "Caliph of Bagdad", and "William Tell", etc.

Mr. Baur was obviously an early adopter...it is no wonder we find his works to be so interesting! I wonder what became of his manuscripts? He mentions having them, being dated, etc.

[Joel Hooks]

I was going to bid on these, but now I'm glad they went into good hands. Is there any way I could buy a photocopy?

What are the pieces in them?

This is what I bid on instead to go with my new jo.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:M...

Go to the bottom of the listing.

[Trapdoor2]

>>deuceswilde said:
>>I was going to bid on these, but now I'm glad they went into good hands. Is there any way I could >>buy a photocopy?

No.

When I get it copied, it will be a .pdf file that will be available for all to use.

Besides, friends don't charge friends for copies.

>>What are the pieces in them?

I'll type up a list soon. I am almost ready to start with the digital photography stuff. I'm hoping to make the first test shots tomorrow. Tightly bound materials (such as the Stewart Journals) will take a different set-up...but I'll get there!

>>This is what I bid on instead to go with my new jo.

Oooh. I have been outbid on several wrenches like that. I'll get one eventually. Good work!