Hi all,

I haven't been social media-ing for a while now, but had reason to return. I have delved into classic-fingerstyle banjo related articles again on Wikipedia and thought I'd share the news of their existence. Completed are Alfred A. Farland and Samuel Swaim Stewart

Any corrections or additions are welcome. I didn't have a copy of the 5 Stringer on Farland, so I'm sure there is a wealth of material that could be added.

Best wishes,

Jack

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Thanks! That was fascinating reading.

Thank you, I appreciate that!

Tom McArdle said:

Thanks! That was fascinating reading.

I thought the article on Farland was fantastic. The one on Stewart could have said more about his publications and innovations in banjo construction. Here is a list of publications taken from his catalogue with dates added by me where known.

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Methods
The Banjo Player's Handbook (Stewart) (1880)
The Banjo 'By Ear' (1880)
S. S. Stewart's First & Second Lessons for the Banjo (1880)
The Minstrel Banjoist (Stewart) 1881
Stewart's Short Hand Method For The Banjo (Without Notes) (1885) Stewart's Thorough School For The Banjo Stewart's Universal Banjo Instructor (1882)
The Young Banjoist
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Other Works
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The Artistic Banjoist - A Book for advanced players
Observations On The Banjo and Banjo Playing- SS Stewart (1892)
"The Banjo Philosophically" A Lecture by S. S. Stewart (c. 1887)
The Banjo And Guitar Music Album
The Banjoist's Delight
The Banjoist's Compendium
The Banjoist's Own Collection Of Choice Music
The New Era Professional Banjoist
The Banjoist's Assistant or Note Reading Made Easy
Books For Banjo Players, Dealers, Makers and Learners
The Banjo: Its Makers And Players
--------------------------
S. S. Stewart also published hundreds of individual pieces for banjo including many original compostions by Stewart himself.

The Banjeaurine - this instrument was developed by S. S. Stewart and was an important feature of banjo orchestras alongside the bass banjo.

My best count is 773 pieces of sheet music, but there could be more I don't know about.

Same with his compositions.  In printed sheet music he composed at least 71 (this does not include any compositions that were in the books) and arranged at least 59 (again, excluding what was published in tutors or folios).

I'll be boring people with this at the next ABF rally. 

The problem with a Wiki article is that one must provide references and most of this info has not been published formally other than in the original source. 

Examples are SSS' marriage to his wife Anna, their two sons Fred and Lemuel.  How the company was stolen from his family by George Bauer.  How he died of a stroke.

SSS also published one work of fiction "Adventures of a Banjo Player".   Many of the above works have been scanned (by me) and uploaded to the internet archive. 


Stewart's final resting place is in small Quaker cemetery in Downingtown, PA. Photos of his headstone can be found on this site. 

Edward Bettega said:

I thought the article on Farland was fantastic. The one on Stewart could have said more about his publications and innovations in banjo construction. Here is a list of publications taken from his catalogue with dates added by me where known.

-----------
Methods
The Banjo Player's Handbook (Stewart) (1880)
The Banjo 'By Ear' (1880)
S. S. Stewart's First & Second Lessons for the Banjo (1880)
The Minstrel Banjoist (Stewart) 1881
Stewart's Short Hand Method For The Banjo (Without Notes) (1885) Stewart's Thorough School For The Banjo Stewart's Universal Banjo Instructor (1882)
The Young Banjoist
-----------------
Other Works
-----------------
The Artistic Banjoist - A Book for advanced players
Observations On The Banjo and Banjo Playing- SS Stewart (1892)
"The Banjo Philosophically" A Lecture by S. S. Stewart (c. 1887)
The Banjo And Guitar Music Album
The Banjoist's Delight
The Banjoist's Compendium
The Banjoist's Own Collection Of Choice Music
The New Era Professional Banjoist
The Banjoist's Assistant or Note Reading Made Easy
Books For Banjo Players, Dealers, Makers and Learners
The Banjo: Its Makers And Players
--------------------------
S. S. Stewart also published hundreds of individual pieces for banjo including many original compostions by Stewart himself.

The Banjeaurine - this instrument was developed by S. S. Stewart and was an important feature of banjo orchestras alongside the bass banjo.

Thank you Edward and Joel. I was being very conservative to get the Stewart article published. I will continue to expand it. Anything I can find with a link to will work as a reference to prove the existence of a work. Besides the above mentioned works, is there any music that is most important?

Best wishes, Jack

Hello again,

I have still to add to the S. S. Stewart article, but I thought I would share this third article that I have been working on, for George W. Gregory. Best wishes, Jack

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