The Blue Bells of Scotland (Ellis)

[carrie horgan]

I have a cd with a muffled recording of Ray Andrews playing this traditional tune -  he plays a very pretty sounding version with harmonics and says that he learnt it from an Herbert Ellis tutor but I haven't been able to locate which one.  Does anyone happen to have a score?

Thanks

Carrie

[Mike Moss]

Hi Carrie,

the arrangement is in Ellis' Thorough School for the 5-string banjo. You'll find it on pages 54 and 55 of the edition uploaded by Hal Allert on his Classic Banjo site, or 56 and 57 of what seems to be a later edition with a few more arrangements.

[Jody Stecher]

On pages 54 and 55 of the Revised Edition of Ellis's Thorough School For The Five Stringed Banjo – that's the big one with the pink cover– there is a simple arrangement of Blue Bells Of Scotland. But it has no harmonics and only one variation. This version can be found right here on this website in the library. Just enter a keyword (Ellis, Bluebells, etc) and it will appear. Click on Download PDF and you will immediately have it on your computer from which it can be printed.  It may not be the arrangement you are looking for but it's a good one and very banjo-like.

[thereallyniceman]

Hi Carrie,

I have a score for “Blue Bells of Scotland” which comes from the  H.J.Ellis’ Thorough School for Banjo. 

I think that Ray Andrews may have added the harmonics variation himself, so you may have to work those out too!

I have added the score to the MUSIC LIBRARY and for those who haven’t heard Ray Andrews play there is a snippet of the tune to listen to with the score.

The Ray Andrews  Classic English Banjo CD  (MTCD 314) can be purchased from the publishers,  Musical Tradition Records :  www.mtrecords.co.uk

[carrie horgan]

Great - thanks for your help with this.  I will get started...!

Carrie