The Syncopatin' Shuffle, by Frank Lawes, with piano accompaniment; a jazzy, catchy foxtrot and one of the best compositions ever written for Classic Banjo.

The Syncopatin' Shuffle -- Frank Lawes

One of the best marches for Classic banjo

Circus Parade - Morley

"In this group I regard the "Cornish Dances" already mentioned as the composer’s highest achievement - and I think Cammeyer did too. We both played them often - but not publicly, as far as I can remember.

Of the "Dances" Cammeyer said more than once, "I know I’ve gone ‘way above their heads this time but, anyway, they don’t tread on anybody’s toes." - the second part of his remark meaning that this work owed nothing to any other composer."

-Bernard Sheaff

Cornish Dance No 1 - Cammeyer

One of Sor's most iconic études, arranged by Al Jeffery for Classic 5-string banjo, repeats played one octave higher.

Andante Op 31 No 1 - Sor - Arr. Jeffery

A Russian classic by the father of the modern balalaika, V. V. Andreyev, arranged for Classic banjo (tremolo style) by Emile Grimshaw

Babochka (Butterfly) - V V Andreyev

The famous ragtime solo, "Ragtime Oriole", as arranged and recorded by Fred Van Eps, transcribed from his 1950s recordings by Ian Holloway and Jody Stecher.

This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo and is played on an openback banjo with heavy gauge nylon strings and bare fingertips (no nails).

Ragtime Oriole - Scott - Arr. Van eps

A selection from the overture to Dichter und Bauer arranged by Parke Hunter for Classic fingerstyle banjo; I have arranged the piano part.

Poet and Peasant Overture - von Suppe

It feels like 1990 was a really long time ago... but listening to this music always takes me back. I've made this arrangement of the main theme for banjo and piano to follow the original MIDI soundtrack as closely as possible. This style of banjo is known as Classic Banjo (visit http://classic-banjo.ning.com/ for more information)

The Secret of Monkey Island - Michael Land - Arr. Mike Moss

One of Joe Morley's iconic pieces, whose title, like that of "The Palladium March", reminds us of when he led a troupe of 34 banjoists in the "London Palladium Minstrel Show" in 1912 in what was probably the most famous West End theatre.

This piece has some pretty challenging and tricky bits but it's a blast to play! The best performance I've ever heard is from an early cylinder home recording, as a duet between Richard "Dick" Tarrant Bailey Snr. and one of his friends, which really nails that characteristic foot-tapping cakewalk rhythm.

For more information on this style of playing visit http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Palladium Rag - Joe Morley

Or perhaps should I say "Variations on The Three Stooges" ;-)

Here's a typical Parke Hunter showpiece based upon Septimus Winner's famous tune, which was also a staple of minstrel shows. George W. Johnson, the first African American phonograph recording star, famously recorded a whistled version of this tune.

This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/

Variations on The Mocking Bird - Hunter

They see me promenadin', they hatin'!

This is a really fun piece by Porter Steele (originally subtitled "a submarine escapade") which, for reasons which I cannot fathom, definitely has a very "lobster-y" feel to it. It also reminds me of "Mosquito's Parade", another hit of the times which famously featured in the film "55 Days in Peking". It was arranged for banjo by Fred Van Eps, and the piano part was arranged by none other than Frank Banta, who often played duets with Fred. So we've had one of the greatest banjoists and one of the greatest pianists ever joining forces in this piece! (And now it's being butchered by a no-talent hack like myself)

AFAIK Fred recorded this one twice, in 1903 (cylinder) and 1914 (record).

The Lobster's Promenade - Porter Steele

Probably one of the oddest and most special Classic Banjo solos I've come across. This one has intrigued me for a very long time, though I wasn't able to play it entirely until recently.

In the March 1944 issue of B.M.G., Rex Hart spoke of it in these terms: 

"Adieu" is, in my opinion, Kirby’s greatest solo to date. It opens with a solemn bass 
melody which reappears in four-note chords an octave higher. Then follows the  piece 
de resistance; a beautiful, haunting air on the first string with repeated notes and thumb 
accompaniment. As a composition it equals, if not excels Tarrega’s famous "Tremolo 
Study".  "Adieu" is a momentous achievement."

To my knowledge, this solo has never been recorded before, and it was published very late, probably in B.M.G by the looks of it. Unfortunately, this first recording is unworthy of it; I made a couple of mistakes towards the end; for this shameful display, I shall commit Seppuku with a wooden spork and commit my soul to the Banjo Gods. May Morley have mercy upon my resonator!

Adieu - Alfred Kirby

This is an arrangement of the famous La Paloma (The Dove) by Sebastián Iradier (or Yradier), as arranged by the big man himself -- Alfred A. Farland. This habanera has reached a quasi-folk song status in a very large amount of countries in the world, which is even more surprising when one considers that the author died in obscurity shortly after returning from Cuba and never witnessed the fame his works would achieve.

Of course, one can only assume that the Scientific Banjoist of Pittsburgh would have executed it infintiely better than I have, but it's a very nice and effective arrangement which should be within the reach of most banjoists; the only difficulties are the tremolo passages (which can be omitted without any great loss) and some long stretches. The way he achieves dispersed harmonies and integrates parts of the bass line into the banjo's limited range is very clever.

Classic Banjo Mike

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