Comment by nick Kelly on May 11, 2020 at 14:18

that was very nice Carrie and, the banjo actually sounds like a zither to me ! how about the third man theme ? it would work great on that instrument.

Comment by carrie horgan on May 11, 2020 at 16:45

Thanks Nick.  Good tune suggestion - I like Dave Hum's version.

Comment by Trapdoor2 on May 11, 2020 at 18:00

Well done Carrie! I liked that a lot!

Comment by carrie horgan on May 11, 2020 at 20:32

Thanks Marc!

Comment by Richard William Ineson on May 12, 2020 at 9:22

Nice to hear one of Alan's pieces being played. As you say he has written or arranged a lot of banjo music over the years, he worked at the CE Co, shop in Old Compton Street in the late 1940s, early 50s. He's still going strong at around 90 years old, he recently moved back to Norfolk from Devon where had been living for about 20 years. His arrangement of the 'Harry Lime' theme is very good and does sound well on the ZB. The Houhgton looks and sounds marvellous, you got a good buy.

Comment by carrie horgan on May 12, 2020 at 15:23

Thanks Richard.  I will have to check out the 'Harry Lime' theme.  Echo Tango has a second part which I have started learning.  Didn't realise he lived in Norfolk!

Comment by Joel Hooks on May 12, 2020 at 18:26

Great playing Carrie!

I like Middleton's work too.  His "Music for a Quieter Mood" is nice.  I ran across an arrangement he did of Greensleeves in the BMG that is very nice.

I got his recordings when they were first released and have listened to them a number of times.  I think I'll put it on right now!

Comment by carrie horgan on May 12, 2020 at 18:46

Thanks Joel.  I have his CD 'Only One Pair of Hands':

http://cliffordessex.net/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=859

I particularly like 'Buckwheat Barn Dance.'  

Comment by Jake Glanville on Wednesday

Hello Carrie,

Meant to tell you long ago how much I like this piece and your playing of it.  I use this video to demonstrate why the 'zither' banjo was so named.  One can really hear the difference between the sound of your banjo and an 'ordinary' one.  Your video has also come in useful in identifying one of my banjos, one of my very best, incidently.  Mine was retailed as a Barnes & Mullins, but it has the golden lion couchant, which was George Houghton's trademark. It does not have 'GHS' for George Houghton and Sons, which makes it one made by him in the early days of the company, in my view.  It also has the 'bird-in-flight' motif on the fretboard, which I've only ever seen on George Houghton's banjos.  Keep yew on a banjoing, as they say in these parts! 

Add a Comment