Jet Travis - Posted - 11/09/2010:  13:48:19

I've been listening to some Elizabethan music and English country dance tunes from a bit later and thinking they would sound awfully nice on a banjo. Anyone out there playing these kind of tunes?

banjotef - Posted - 11/09/2010:  13:52:58

I've learned a couple of Bach tunes , and some Celtic tunes. They're fun, and good exercise for scales.

Jody Hughes - Posted - 11/12/2010:  02:17:51

I learned some Renaissance music on the banjo many years ago but I haven't the slightest idea how to play ANY of it anymore. You are right though, the style of music you describe does sound good on the banjo.

Unplugged - Posted - 11/12/2010:  06:50:18

For many of those classical pieces, often written for the harpsichord, the banjo just comes across wonderfully.

I find it particularly challenging to learn them because they really need to be learned note-for-note. No real opportunities for improv or going off the melody - although I know it can and has been done by REAL musicians. When I go off the melody line in classical pieces, it's called a mistake.

g3zdm - Posted - 11/12/2010:  12:37:46

I started out with bluegrass but began attending Celtic and mixed Celtic/English sessions when I found out that there were many more of them locally
than either BG or old time - although I do have a localish BG session this Sunday.
Most of the O'Carolan tunes from the early 1700s work very well on the banjo and quite a few are in G (and most of the rest are in the key of D) so pretty easy to work out, in my case usually from the sheet music with an MP3 or midi file as a backing or timing-check track. Carolan was a blind Irish harpist who wrote oodles of tunes (Google will find whole websites dedicated to him). There are examples in the BHO media files section.
Also do Scots, some English country dances and similar.
Some of the regularly played tunes have links to classical anyway - or you can say that some classical pieces borrowed from original folk dances and songs.
(Michael Turner's waltz is a common English tune almost identical to a a Mozart tune which Mozart himself pointed out derived from an old German folk tune).
LilliBurlero (Purcell) is another one.

ekistl - Posted - 11/13/2010:  18:36:33

I am convinced Bach would have written for banjo had it been around during his time.

Check this out. amazon.com/Mel-Bay-presents-Ba...25&sr=1-3

mikey5string - Posted - 11/19/2010:  09:16:26

if you can find a way to contack Lauck Benson, he was handing out a folder with tabs w/CD's, abd notes on 16th and 19th century banjo stuff at banjo camp north a couple years ago. some taken from cittern music some taken from old banjo tutors.

it is very cool and not too difficult.

i remember one of the tunes being called "Master Earls Pavane" or something.

this might be something you would find interesting,


i have the book and tabs but i dont want to scan it as i dont know if he is offering then for sale or just giving them away like he was at banjo camp north.

Blue Cheese - Posted - 11/24/2010:  19:39:11

quote:

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Originally posted by Jet Travis

I've been listening to some Elizabethan music and English country dance tunes from a bit later and thinking they would sound awfully nice on a banjo. Anyone out there playing these kind of tunes?

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AllanJ - Posted - 11/26/2010:  13:12:50

I've put a couple of English tunes in the tab archive. 'Enrico' and 'Alexandra Park' are a couple of great English dance tunes that work well on the 5-string. Michael Turner's waltz is played a lot at local pub sessions, I've tabbed a basic version of it but to play it properly you need a pub, lots of musicians, a roaring log fire and beer.

I'll put up a couple more tabs when I get the chance. There's a real wealth of dance tunes (jigs, reels, hornpipes, rants etc.) once you start looking and almost all of it is in banjo-friendly keys. I find some of the English Morris tunes a bit dull but otherwise you're spoilt for choice. There are lots of '100 Best Session Tunes" books which will give you the basic melody and sometimes suggested chords. If you want to go back in time a bit get a copy of John Playford's 'Dancing Master' first published in 1650 or thereabouts, many of the tunes are still popular today.

Tom and Iain (of this parish) have both published books of Irish/Scots/"Celtic" tunes all tabbed out and ready to play.

g3zdm - Posted - 11/26/2010:  16:19:58

I've got to agree with your comment regarding the best environment for airing Michael Turner's Waltz.
(been there a few times and got the tee shirt).

Edited by - g3zdm on 11/26/2010 16:20:34

stormoveroklahoma - Posted - 11/27/2010:  10:45:50

Hi,

I consider myself a jazz and bluegrass and rock player.
Some people call me a "Chromatic" player.

But I am totally into Bach.
I've learned three pieces so far this year and I am thinking "what genius!"
the whole while I'm enjoying the notes lilting out of my banjo.
I hear my banjo's bell and harp like qualities on display coming out sweet
and clear with Bach's music.

"Jesus Joy of Man's Desiring"
"Prelude to Cello suite #1 in G Major"
and Bach's "Toccata"

They sound great played in the acoustics of Church.


Does anyone here have any more Bach or others classical tab suggestions?
Perhaps tab I could find on the web?

Storm in Vermont

Edited by - stormoveroklahoma on 11/27/2010 17:14:51

Ronnie - Posted - 11/27/2010:  13:56:16

Noam ("Pickles") Pikelny- BHO member "NP"
youtube.com/watch?v=p1NNBf7uVQ4

Edited by - Ronnie on 01/28/2011 15:51:15

Rysher - Posted - 11/28/2010:  22:44:49

Hey, here is some Bach on th Banjo and solo classical and one original arrangement of Bob Dylan Like a Rolling Stone. I am with you guys I love the sound of classical music on the banjo I just wish I could do it better.

Complete Unknown	Bach Partita #3	Andante	Bach Minuet in G
Bach, J.S. Cello Suite #1

stormoveroklahoma - Posted - 11/28/2010:  23:46:51

quote:

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Originally posted by Rysher

Hey, here is some Bach on th Banjo and solo classical and one original arrangement of Bob Dylan Like a Rolling Stone. I am with you guys I love the sound of classical music on the banjo I just wish I could do it better.

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Ronnie - Posted - 11/29/2010:  07:02:10

"Jesu" from the tab in the old Pete Seeger book was one of the first pieces I ever learned. I have picked up a few more Bach pieces through the years. Pachelbel's Canon is also fun to play with.

Jet Travis - Posted - 11/29/2010:  10:13:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by stormoveroklahoma

quote:

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Originally posted by Rysher

Hey, here is some Bach on th Banjo and solo classical and one original arrangement of Bob Dylan Like a Rolling Stone. I am with you guys I love the sound of classical music on the banjo I just wish I could do it better.

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That is some sweet playing Tim. Thanks for adding to the post.
Very tasteful interpretations. I'll try to work on some others.

Thanks

Storm

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banjopiet - Posted - 11/29/2010:  12:40:20

Great to hear that others are into this too!
I've started playing classical tunes (mainly Bach) on the banjo about a year ago. After I had tried a couple of O'Carolan tunes (O'Carolan's Concerto and O'Carolans Draught), I thought why not try Bach! Just a small step....
I prefer to work out my own arrangements (see tab section Partita #1 for flute). For some reason it's harder for me to study someone elses arrangement, perhaps because they are often in melodic style, so hard to memorize IMHO.
regards,

P.

davidtoc - Posted - 11/29/2010:  17:08:00

Elizabethan banjo music, you say? Check this out: banjo.com/Mel_Bay_Rennaissance...73bcd.htm