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Playing Since: 2008
Experience Level: Purty Good
Mike Moss has made 202 recent additions to Banjo Hangout 
My Instruments:
Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Balalaika, Uke... you name it.
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
William J. Ball, Fred Van Eps, Tarrant Bailey Jnr, Derek Lillywhite, Olly Oakley, Joe Morley, Vess L. Ossman, Parke Hunter, Alfred Cammeyer, Emile Grimshaw, Tom Barriball, Charles Mansell, Rev. Adam Hunkler
Classified Rating: 0
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 3/22/2011
Last Visit 5/17/2013
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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1 person likes this
Play count: 176
Size: 1,356kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:15:25 AM
Genre: Traditional
A maritime medley for Classic style banjo.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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5 people like this
Play count: 115
Size: 5,326kb, uploaded 3/27/2013 7:13:19 AM
Genre: Traditional
In topics:
A Sea Breeze - a medley of traditional sea songs
A medley of sea songs with a banjo twist, this is also one of Morley's trickiest solos to play at speed, in which Old Joe predates Bill Keith's performance of Sailor's Hornpipe by at least 50 years! Nothing new under the sun, eh?
The songs/melodies in this solo are:
1 - Intro (Joe Morley)
2 - Tom Bowling (Charles Dibdin)
3 - Rule, Britannia! (Thomas Arne)
4 - Jack's the Lad/Sailor's Hornpipe (Anonymous)
5 - Outro (Joe Morley)
Played on my new Clifford Essex Weaver banjo, similar to the one Joe Morley would have played.
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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1 person likes this
Play count: 136
Size: 1,382kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:16:30 AM
Genre: Popular
One of Joe Morley's finest solos for Classic style banjo.
2 comments
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Fernando Sor / Al Jeffery
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Play count: 115
Size: 2,555kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:18:24 AM
Genre: Classical
A famous guitar piece arranged for Classic style banjo.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by V. V. Andreyev / E. Grimshaw
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2 people like this
Play count: 96
Size: 1,930kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:19:47 AM
Genre: Other
A Russian favourite by the father of the modern balalaika, V. V. Andreyev, arranged for Classic style banjo by Emile Grimshaw.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Emile Grimshaw
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Play count: 101
Size: 1,559kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:20:49 AM
Genre: Popular
A catchy tune for Classic style banjo written by Emile Grimshaw.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by arranged by Alan V Middleton
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3 people like this
Play count: 123
Size: 1,620kb, uploaded 5/7/2013 9:13:50 AM
Genre: Other
In topics:
Bonja Song: The first piece of printed music to mention the banjo, c. 1800
The "Bonja Song" is the first piece of printed music ever to mention the banjo. Published in the UK circa 1800, it is earlier than minstrelsy and it confirms that the banjo, or banjo-like instruments, was associated with Africans and their music at the time. This is also confirmed in period artwork, such as the "old plantation" painting. It was marketed as a genuine black folk song, though this is unlikely, as the lyrics are the usual condescending, racist and paternalistic fare of the times, though it is less hateful than many later minstrel songs. The melody, however, falls admirably on the banjo strings, as can be seen in the original piano sheet music. Could it be that the melody was indeed originally played on the banjo? We will never know. This little ditty remains, however, an important part of the musical history of the banjo.
This has been arranged for the banjo for the first time by Alan V. Middleton, in his book "Early Minstrel Music for the Five-String Banjo", available from Clifford Essex: http://www.cliffordessex.net/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=148, and printed in both notation and tab. This is not a book about "minstrel banjo", but rather, a compilation of music from the time arranged for Classic style five-string banjo.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred Kirby
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1 person likes this
Play count: 114
Size: 1,370kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:21:52 AM
Genre: Ragtime
A jaunty tune with alternating bass for Classic style banjo by Alfred Kirby.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred Kirby
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1 person likes this
Play count: 83
Size: 5,492kb, uploaded 3/10/2013 10:36:35 AM
Genre: Ragtime
In topics:
Carry On - Alfred Kirby - New Weaver Banjo
This is Alfred Kirby's most famous solo and arguably one of his very best, with a great foot-tapping rhythm and a brilliant use of the fourth string, particularly in the trio part. One of the earliest recordings of this solo was cut in the 1920s by Kirby's friend, Ernest Jones, a zither-banjo player of no small skill who produced a brilliant, strident tone with his instrument.
I have chosen this solo as the third in a series of recordings to demonstrate the capabilities of my new Weaver. The fourth string produces a fat, round bass that makes a neat contrast with the clear, nasal trebles.
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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1 person likes this
Play count: 109
Size: 1,619kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:22:48 AM
Genre: Popular
One of Joe Morley's greatest marches for Classic style banjo.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred D. Cammeyer
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2 people like this
Play count: 55
Size: 7,301kb, uploaded 3/8/2013 5:58:07 AM
Genre: Other
This is an oddball composition by banjo standards -- it's complex, subtle and intriguing. Reminiscing about his late teacher Alfred Cammeyer, Bernard Sheaff wrote:
"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."
I chose this piece as the first of a series of recordings to showcase the capabilities of my new banjo -- a brand new "Weaver" banjo, made by Garry Silvert for the revived Clifford Essex Company. Based on the Classic banjos by the legendary luthier Alfred Weaver most famously played by the legendary Joe Morley, it has a 12" rim with block construction, made out of English oak and with a Chakte Viga tone ring, a mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard. Strung with heavy nylon strings it is an absolute cannon with a crack like a whip, but it can also be subtle, quiet and extremely musical, with an almost zither-banjo like voice, when called for.
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred Cammeyer
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Play count: 110
Size: 1,747kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:24:12 AM
Genre: Classical
One of Alfred Cammeyer's best solos, according to his pupil, the late Bernard Sheaff.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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Play count: 100
Size: 1,232kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:25:09 AM
Genre: Popular
An exotic piece by Joe Morley for Classic style banjo.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred D. Cammeyer
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4 people like this
Play count: 83
Size: 7,008kb, uploaded 1/24/2013 7:39:20 AM
Genre: Other
This is my second experiment with the new mic. Previously, I always recorded myself playing with the piano part in the background whenever I played a piece w/ the piano part; this time I have recorded the banjo part with the new mic and added the piano part afterwards.
So here's a nice piece in Cammeyer's more lyrical style; like much of his output, it's a beautiful tune bordering on treacle, but the schmaltz is more than amply redeemed by its virtues as a composition, with unusual harmonies that never fail to make me feel nostalgic and homesick.
As far as I know, this solo has only ever been recorded by D. Lillywhite (perhaps by Cammeyer and Sheaff as a duet?). As much as I enjoy Lillywhite's version, I found it a bit too slow (4 and a half minutes for a one-page solo) so I made my version a bit more lively and slightly less sugary.
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Lorenzo Suárez
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1 person likes this
Play count: 38
Size: 6,529kb, uploaded 5/9/2013 8:40:51 AM
Genre: Traditional
In topics:
El Certámen de Jaén - an authentic Spanish march, arranged for three banjos
So I was researching on early fretted instrument ensemble traditions in the late 19th century and I stumbled upon this little gem. This obscure piece of music, written as a piano reduction to be arranged for ensembles (presumably marching bands) is a delightful march in the Spanish style written by a music teacher and businessman who worked in Jaén, Spain, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The title seems to indicate that he organised some sort of musical pageant or contest in his hometown, though I have not found any further information on this subject. He was apparently a representative of Heinrich Zimmermann of Leipzig, one of the foremost German musical instrument makers at the time.
When I saw the score I felt it would make a great ensemble piece for banjos, so I arranged it for one first banjo, one second banjo and one cello banjo. The piece is surprisingly effective, with a nice exotic sound, and my arrangement only requires knowledge of a few easy chords in the keys of G and C.
I would like to dedicate this performance and arrangement to the under-appreciated banjo legend, Alan V. Middleton, and to his Spanish alter-ego "Alonso Medio", the pen name under which he published a number of books and music for the guitar.
This style of playing is known as Classic style banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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1 person likes this
Play count: 104
Size: 1,328kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:26:14 AM
Genre: Popular
A catchy lilt by Joe Morley for Classic style banjo. It was probably named after a racehorse, as Joe was notoriously fond of the nags.
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Written/Posted
by Mike Moss
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4 people like this
Play count: 87
Size: 1,999kb, uploaded 4/16/2013 12:12:13 PM
Genre: Traditional
In topics:
Hava Nagila
Here's an arrangement I've made of this celebrated Jewish folk song for Classic style banjo. It is a bit of an unusual arrangement as it integrates as much of the bass line as the banjo's tuning allows for. This makes it a bit of a finger twister but the complete solo effect is also very rewarding.
The illustration for the video is a statuette found in ancient Israel which depicts someone playing what looks like an early gourd banjo-like instrument.
Here is a link to the sheet music for my arrangement: http://www.mediafire.com/view/?4yy0zebaf8zz3yn
This style is known as Classic style banjo, for more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Herbert J. Ellis
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2 people like this
Play count: 198
Size: 11,986kb, uploaded 4/17/2013 12:03:18 PM
Genre: Traditional
In topics:
Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home, written by Henry Bishop, is one of the world's most enduring and well-known melodies. It has also been a favourite with banjoists ever since the minstrel era, with arrangements composed and played by Frank B. Converse, Alfred A. Farland, Herbert J. Ellis, S. E. Turner, or Earl Scruggs. Sets of variations on melodies such as this one were extremely popular with audiences at the time and were therefore a staple of Classic banjo playing. This set of variations is probably one of the best of its kind, as it is neither too simple nor too difficult. It follows the following structure:
- Intro w/cadenza (semi-improvised fancy ornaments)
- Theme
- Rolling/arpeggio variation
- "Brilliant" variation (with fast, fancy ornaments)
- Tremolo variation
- Thimble variation (down-picking with a metal thimble pick)
This style is known as Classic style banjo, for more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
2 comments
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Henry Bishop and John Howard Payne
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Play count: 136
Size: 684kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:27:22 AM
Genre: Traditional
An arrangement of this old favourite for Classic style banjo by S. E. Turner.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred D. Cammeyer
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4 people like this
Play count: 128
Size: 4,538kb, uploaded 1/23/2013 5:04:04 AM
Genre: Popular
Another quick recording with my new mic, this time I tried to remove some of the background static with some measure of success.
I have based this performance on William J Ball's, incorporating several of his slight variations and changes to the original score; I figured them out by ear but I could write them down if anyone else wants to play it like Bill.
I recorded this one as it's somewhat similar to Lazy Rhythm; both, as bd on Banjohangout and Julian Egan on Classic-Banjo.ning pointed out, have a "strolling" feel to them.
The Wiki sez: "Humoresque (or Humoreske) is a genre of romantic music characterized by pieces with fanciful humor in the sense of mood rather than wit. The name refers to the German term Humoreske, which was given from the 1800s (decade) onward to humorous tales."
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Emile Grimshaw
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Play count: 110
Size: 1,145kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:28:29 AM
Genre: Popular
Another of Grimshaw's most iconic tunes, which was a favourite of BMG ensembles in the early 1900s.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Bert Bassett
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1 person likes this
Play count: 69
Size: 6,519kb, uploaded 1/21/2013 8:42:30 AM
Genre: Popular
A nice tune by Bert Bassett for Classic fingerstyle banjo.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Stephen Foster
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Play count: 113
Size: 1,705kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:29:52 AM
Genre: Traditional
An arrangement of this famous tune for Classic style banjo, played on the occasion of the passing of Earl Scruggs.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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Play count: 78
Size: 1,661kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:31:21 AM
Genre: Other
One of Morley's latest and most virtuosic solos for Classic style banjo.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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Play count: 108
Size: 2,078kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:32:28 AM
Genre: Classical
A quieter piece for Classic style banjo by Joe Morley.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred A. Farland
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1 person likes this
Play count: 182
Size: 9,947kb, uploaded 4/28/2013 6:48:14 AM
Genre: Traditional
In topics:
My Old Kentucky Home (as arranged by A. A. Farland)
I wasn't really sure if I should upload this recording, but since this is about as well as I'm every going to play this one I thought I might as well. I've been struggling with this monster for over a year and, well, here are the results. Plenty of mistakes, some passages I still couldn't play smoothly if my life depended on it, crappy uneven tremolo... so, for me, this is a way of burying this solo for once and for all. The arrangement, in itself, is very nice, but it is far too demanding, so unless you're the ghost of Fred Bacon, don't waste your time on this like I did. There are plenty of great, pleasant and easy arrangements out there that are just as effective and a lot easier.
Now that I got that off my chest... here's some small talk about this piece. My Old Kentucky Home was originally a minstrel song by Stephen Foster, which was introduced to the public by the famous Christy's Minstrels. Even though, like many songs from that time, the song contains ethnic slurs, Frederick Douglass, the African-American abolitionist and intellectual, said of it that "[it stimulates] the sympathies for the slave, in which anti-slavery principles take root and flourish." It has since become the state song of Kentucky, and, recently, the lyrics have been cleaned up to remove the ethnic slurs.
Alfred A. Farland wrote and played this arrangement sometime in the 1890s, and it became an instant favourite with his audiences. The presence of such classic, "characteristic" banjo songs in Farland's repertoire is a nod to his origins -- he worked in a minstrel troupe for a number of years -- and to the audience's expectations. Although Farland never recorded this solo, his pupil, Fred Bacon (of the Bacon banjo co.) played two of the variations in his medley of Southern airs. This recording is available on the website of the Library of Congress, and you would do well to listen to the lightning-fast rolls to see how it's meant to be played. I find the rolling variation to be particularly awkward due to the fact that, unlike Scruggs rolls, these are triplet rolls and the melody is carried by the third string.
The structure of the piece is as follows:
- Intro
- Theme
- "Brilliant" variation
- Minor variation (tremolo on 3rd and 4th strings)
- Rolling variation
- Tremolo variation
This style of playing is known as Classic fingerstyle banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Oley Speaks
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Play count: 52
Size: 5,962kb, uploaded 4/24/2013 8:44:53 AM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen
In topics:
On the Road to Mandalay
The banjo is featured in several of Rudyard Kipling's poems, including this one from the Barrack-Room Ballads: Mandalay. This one was famously made into a song by Oley Speaks which only included three verses. My "sing-along" arrangement only includes the first and last, but as you can see in the attached sheet music, it is quite possible to sing the entire poem simply by repeating the entire song with the first ending before finishing with the final flourish.
Rudyard Kipling wrote this poem after returning from Rangoon to England; on the way, his steamer made a stop at Moulmein (nowadays called Mawlamyine), where he was struck by the beauty of the Burmese women. The poem is a tale of longing of a soldier who wishes to return to a simpler, healthier life and to the girl he left behind in Burma. Note that, in the poem, the girl plays the banjo -- what more can a man ask for?
You can download the sheet music for my arrangement here: http://www.mediafire.com/view/?6ie362q72kbdevs
This style of playing is known as Classic fingerstyle banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Franz von Suppé
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1 person likes this
Play count: 124
Size: 9,335kb, uploaded 7/6/2012 8:58:53 AM
Genre: Classical
A selection from the overture to Poet and Peasant (Dichter und Bauer) by Franz von Suppé, arranged for Classic banjo by Parke Hunter. I have arranged the piano part.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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Play count: 91
Size: 1,542kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:34:01 AM
Genre: Classical
Another of Morley's quieter pieces for Classic style banjo.
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by Mike Moss, written by James Scott
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Play count: 137
Size: 1,408kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:35:08 AM
Genre: Ragtime
Arrangement based on a transcription of an old recording of Fred Van Eps for Classic style banjo.
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Emile Grimshaw
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4 people like this
Play count: 85
Size: 5,423kb, uploaded 3/11/2013 1:06:07 PM
Genre: Other
In topics:
Return of the Regiment - Grimshaw - New Weaver Banjo
One of Grimshaw's most famous solos, Return of the Regiment is a fun, rousing military-themed piece which cleverly incorporates a few bars from "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" towards the end. The late, great Bill Ball rated this as one of the greatest marches ever written for the banjo, and, like many Grimshaw compositions, it falls very easily on the fingerboard as any good solo should.
Played on my new Clifford Essex Weaver banjo.
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred D. Cammeyer
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2 people like this
Play count: 54
Size: 7,208kb, uploaded 4/20/2013 7:33:03 AM
Genre: Popular
In topics:
Sammy on Parade - Alfred D. Cammeyer
Sammy on Parade was one of Alfred D. Cammeyer's most popular solos, though it is seldom heard nowadays. As a march it ranks with the best written for Classic Banjo, such as Return of the Regiment or the Palladium March.
According to Bernard Sheaff, Cammeyer's star pupil, Cammeyer was inspired when he saw the parade of the American troops though London in 1917, after the USA joined the war. He reputedly wrote this solo in only one hour, and it was published shortly thereafter.
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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Play count: 112
Size: 1,417kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:36:43 AM
Genre: Jazz
A nice swing number by Joe Morley for Classic style banjo.
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by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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4 people like this
Play count: 54
Size: 5,621kb, uploaded 5/12/2013 7:18:48 AM
Genre: Jazz
In topics:
Shuffle Along
One of the most fascinating things about Joe Morley is that, due to the fact that his carreer as a famous banjoist spanned about 50 years, he went through a number of musical fashions and styles, and his music adapted to suit them. His distinct style of Classic Banjo playing proved equally suited to ragtime, oriental foxtrot and jazz, as it was to the earlier forms of music he played. This runs contrary to the stereotypical view of Classic banjo peddled by many contemporary documentaries, which would divide banjo history into cut-and-dried "periods".
Shuffle Along was one of the great musical hits of the 1920s. The first all-black musical show, written and performed by African Americans, Shuffle Along embodied all things jazz and it was a smash hit when it premiered on May 23rd 1921. Even though there is no date on the Morley composition, it is very likely that he was inspired by the show to write this jazzy swing number in the 1920's. Everything points to the fact that this became one of his most popular numbers -- young William J. Ball recalled hearing him play it at the 1931 banjo rally, and the minutes of the London Banjo Club record it as one of the last pieces he performed in September, 1937, shortly before his death.
This solo is another example of Joe Morley's remarkable versatility as a banjoist and a composer, as well as the extreme adaptability of Classic Banjo as a playing style.
The success of this composition endures to this day, as it was also recently adapted for guitar by Richard Yates.
This style of playing is known as Classic style banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
1 comment
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Emile Grimshaw
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1 person likes this
Play count: 71
Size: 5,093kb, uploaded 4/23/2013 12:01:55 PM
Genre: Unknown/None Chosen
In topics:
Song of the Volga Boatmen - Arranged for three banjos by Emile Grimshaw
Emile Grimshaw (born in Accrington, Lancs, in 1880) was a prolific player and composer for a number of fretted instruments, including Classic fingerstyle banjo, plectrum banjo, balalaika, and jazz guitar. Among his output he arranged many solos for BMG clubs, where they were very popular.The Song of the Boatmen on the Volga (also known as "Ey, ukhnem!") is a famous Russian melody and an authentic traditional shanty, first written down by Mily Balakirev in his book of Russian folk songs, published in 1866. It was sung by the Burlaks, or barge haulers, as they pulled the heavy timber-laden barges along the river Volga. The song evokes the heavy measured tread of the men as they keep step with the plaintive melody. This arrangement is special insofar as it is written with a divided accompaniment. In Classic Banjo, the vast majority of accompaniments are written for a single Second Banjo, who plays both bass notes and harmony. Divided Accompaniment was explained in a book, published over several issues of Stewart's Journal, by Thos. J. Armstrong, an American banjoist from the late 19th century. His idea was that accompaniments would sound fuller and richer if they were spread over two banjos, using their low strings for a less strident effect. The idea never really caught on, however.
This style of playing is known as Classic fingerstyle banjo. For more information, visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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by Mike Moss, written by Vess L. Ossman
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Play count: 140
Size: 863kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:38:42 AM
Genre: Ragtime
One of the most iconic pieces for Classic style banjo, played as a double-tracked duet with myself.
2 comments
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Posted
by Mike Moss, written by Alfred Cammeyer
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Play count: 94
Size: 1,588kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:41:26 AM
Genre: Classical
Probably my favourite Cammeyer piece for Classic fingerstyle banjo.
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by Mike Moss, written by Emile Grimshaw
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Play count: 64
Size: 4,683kb, uploaded 2/4/2013 6:41:04 AM
Genre: Ragtime
A fun solo by Emile Grimshaw which includes the Scottish classics "Highland Laddie" and "Annie Laurie". I've only heard two recordings of this one -- one by Olly Oakley, who played the entire thing very fast and with his typical rhythmic flair, and another by Charles Mansell, who slowed down for the Annie Laurie part. I play it "Oakley style" throughout and at full speed -- even though "Annie Laurie" does sound a bit comical played fast!
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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6 people like this
Play count: 68
Size: 5,559kb, uploaded 4/1/2013 5:17:18 AM
Genre: Popular
In topics:
The London Club Parade - Morley - New Weaver Banjo
Some of you noticed the quality of the sound in my recordings has declined, lately. I took the microphone apart and found that one of the pins in the XLR connector had come loose. Fortunately, after rebuilding it, the sound has gone back to normal, as you can hear in this recording.
This solo was written by Joe Morley when he was the president of the London Banjo Club, where he often played during the inter-war years hoping to stimulate sales of his compositions. This implied a considerable effort on his part as he lacked money for the return bus fare and he had to walk a long way home.
The Club closed during WWII and re-opened in the 1950s. It has since closed for good, like most other banjo clubs, due to dwindling membership figures.
I have recorded this solo on a Weaver banjo similar to the one Joe Morley used to play (pictured, centre).
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by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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1 person likes this
Play count: 104
Size: 1,452kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:42:35 AM
Genre: Popular
According to the late, great William J. Ball, "one of the best marches ever written for the banjo." I concur.
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by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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3 people like this
Play count: 37
Size: 5,479kb, uploaded 4/3/2013 3:11:53 AM
Genre: Popular
In topics:
Palladium March - Joe Morley - with anecdotes and stuff ;-)
As with the "Palladium Rag", the title of this piece reminds us of when Joe Morley led a troupe of 34 banjoists in the "London Palladium Minstrel Show" when the minstrel show was revived in the London Palladium in 1912, eight years after the closing of St James's Hall in 1904. During this time which harkened to the halcyon days when Morley played with the Moore and Burgess (former Christy) Minstrels, Joe featured as a soloist and dazzled audiences with some of his most impressive showpieces. The show eventually disbanded and Morley entertained the troops during the war in Alec Huber's concert party, "The Jesters".
You can hear the piece played by the master himself (recorded after the war, as a duet with Olly Oakley) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIi4W-kZmaM
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by Mike Moss, written by Montague Ewing
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Play count: 68
Size: 8,207kb, uploaded 3/30/2013 6:01:01 AM
Genre: Popular
In topics:
The Policeman's Holiday - arr. Olly Oakley, played on my new Weaver
So here I am, playing Olly Oakley's arrangement of the classic tune "The Policeman's Holiday" in honour of our resident Banjo Bobby and arranger extraordinaire on Classic-Banjo.Ning, Steve Harrison. You can also listen to the "genuine article" -- played by Oakley himself on his zither-banjo, one hundred years ago -- here on Youtube.
Oakley was one of the most prolific and popular banjoists of his time. He cut countless records during the early days of sound recording and his skill in spontaneously improvising on solos or making up "variations" on the fly -- some would say making mistakes! -- means that he hardly recorded a solo in the same way twice.
He played the zither-banjo in a brash, strident fashion and pulled a brilliant tone from it, in contrast to the popular perception of the ZB as a soft, subdued instrument.
Unlike Oakley, I have recorded this on a regular (nylon-strung) banjo similar to the one Joe Morley would have played.
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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by Mike Moss, written by Joe Morley
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Play count: 104
Size: 1,421kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:37:49 AM
Genre: Popular
A lively march by Joe Morley for Classic style banjo.
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by Mike Moss, written by Vess L Ossman
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Play count: 53
Size: 4,305kb, uploaded 5/10/2013 11:49:32 AM
Genre: Popular
In topics:
Sunflower Dance backup track (new)
I have recorded this backup track at the tempo I usually play the piece. Feel free to use it for your practice sessions, recordings or live performances -- and if you have found this useful, please let me know! I'm always glad to be of service.
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by Mike Moss, written by Frank Lawes
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Play count: 142
Size: 1,762kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 9:40:20 AM
Genre: Ragtime
A hot syncopated solo written for Classic style banjo by Frank Lawes.
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by Mike Moss, written by Frank Lawes
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3 people like this
Play count: 131
Size: 6,889kb, uploaded 3/9/2013 4:28:42 AM
Genre: Jazz
A more modern composition in the Classic banjo repertoire, The Syncopatin' Shuffle is also one of the most popular and has been recorded countless times. Frank Lawes, also known as "Fifthless Frank" because he liked to play a 4-string banjo fingerstyle, was an outstanding player and composer with a characteristic foot-tapping, furiously syncopated style. He kept on composing pieces into the 1960s and was well known by banjoists on both sides of the Atlantic.
I have chosen this as the second piece to showcase the musical capabilities of my new Weaver banjo, a 12" Classic-style cannon based on the banjo perhaps most famously played by Joe Morley. The tone has a piercing, nasal quality and has plenty of cut, with a fat, round bass on the fourth string, and "Syncopatin' Shuffle" called for both.
This style of playing is known as Classic Banjo. For more information visit: http://classic-banjo.ning.com/
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by Mike Moss, written by Parke Hunter
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2 people like this
Play count: 92
Size: 6,434kb, uploaded 9/11/2012 10:42:51 AM
Genre: Traditional
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/
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