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Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 05/29/2011: 09:00:48
I was recently in the Louvre Museum in Paris, and while wandering through their magnificent collection of ancient Mesopotamian art, I came across a piece that stopped me in my tracks.
This small stella or tablet in a glass case was ringed with rows of figures - one of which was a row of apparently winged* musicians - playing instruments that looked to me to be unmistakably banjos! This was the best photo I could get, in the subdued lighting of this area, and there's a sort of crescent moon shaped reflection of light from the window on the glass case obscuring a bit of the image - sorry about that.
Apparently, this fellow's music was compelling enough to tame the ostrich and the leopard that accompany him.
The work was indicated as being between 4 and 5 thousand years old. Now, that's what I call really old time!
(*Maybe those are wings - maybe they're just 'gig bags' - or maybe they're something else. I really don't know.)
(click on the attachment below to enlarge)
Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 05/29/2011 09:37:44
Spockears - Posted - 05/29/2011: 09:08:15
That's so cool! Certainly looks like a banjo. Doesn't look like there's resonator, so that mellow, plunky sound would be enough to tame the wildest of beasts. 
Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 05/29/2011: 09:16:29
If I'm not mistaken, George Wunderlich built that one...
banjered - Posted - 05/29/2011: 09:32:18
"If I'm not mistaken, George Wunderlich built that one..." Yep, and he got Zepp to pose for him, for sure, no doubt about it. Banjered
SaxManiac - Posted - 05/29/2011: 09:45:03
So, I guess they're claiming this is a pre-war banjo?
Snowbird - Posted - 05/29/2011: 10:03:23
Remember, that is only an artist's depiction. The actual original banjo that was held by the artist's model 5,000 years ago was purchased on ebay 4 years ago and has already been converted to a 5 string.
burlap - Posted - 05/29/2011: 10:26:02
quote:
Originally posted by Snowbird
Remember, that is only an artist's depiction. The actual original banjo that was held by the artist's model 5,000 years ago was purchased on ebay 4 years ago and has already been converted to a 5 string.
Yeah...but I've heard that the only part original is the rim.......;-)
banjered - Posted - 05/29/2011: 13:20:03
Oh no! Like many pre-wars, it is still 100% completely original, although the pot has been changed 3X and the neck twice. Banjered
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 05/29/2011: 14:57:04
And here I thought this would be a serious discussion of the Mesopotamian old time repertoire, stuff like: 'Babylon Bound', 'Way Down Upon the Euphrates River', 'The Ballad of Gilgamesh', 'Ishtar's Dream', 'Mount Ararat Backstep' and 'Take Me Back to the Tigris River'. You guys can be sooooo frivolous!
derwood400 - Posted - 05/29/2011: 19:50:24
And here I was playing Euphrates River Belle just this morning. Seriously though, that is really cool Marc.
David McLaughlin - Posted - 05/29/2011: 20:23:14
Sorry, but you're all wrong. He's pumping a 12-gauge, and that turkey is in trouble.
Edited by - David McLaughlin on 05/29/2011 20:24:44
Paul R - Posted - 05/29/2011: 21:28:29
Oh, you mean such traditional tunes as "Akkadia Traveler", "Wild Bur-Sin Jones", "Arabaya Gals", "Yellow Rose of Thatagush", "Akshak the Baker", "Hell Broke Loose in Gankhar", "Marching through Gutebum", "Ragtime Arad-Nannar", "Shargalisharri in the Garden", and, of course, the ever popular "Shady Grove"?
Would that be downstroke of two-finger style?
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 05/30/2011: 02:57:32
quote:
Originally posted by Paul R
Oh, you mean such traditional tunes as "Akkadia Traveler", "Wild Bur-Sin Jones", "Arabaya Gals", "Yellow Rose of Thatagush", "Akshak the Baker", "Hell Broke Loose in Gankhar", "Marching through Gutebum", "Ragtime Arad-Nannar", "Shargalisharri in the Garden", and, of course, the ever popular "Shady Grove"?
Would that be downstroke of two-finger style?
How did "Shady Grove" get on that list? I would have sworn that one was no more than a couple of thousand years old at most!
"Yellow Rose of Thatagush" - now there's a Tune of the Week in waiting (and waiting, and waiting)!
Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 05/30/2011 02:58:30
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 05/30/2011: 04:06:41
Looks a lot like any number of long-necked lutes found all across the Silk Road. One such instrument is the dushpulur, from Tuva, which has a hide head.
He's probably singing about what Zoroaster really had to say.
Paul R - Posted - 05/30/2011: 05:40:04
quote:
Originally posted by Klondike Waldo
He's probably singing about what Zoroaster really had to say.
Nah. He's just "winging it".
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 05/30/2011: 06:49:12
quote:
Originally posted by Paul R
quote:
Originally posted by Klondike Waldo
He's probably singing about what Zoroaster really had to say.
Nah. He's just "winging it".
Man, this guy's been stuck playing the same tune the same way for close to 5000 years. Talk about having a version "carved in stone"!
MarkRB - Posted - 05/30/2011: 10:29:34
I think it is an alien from outer space. And all of us who play banjo, especially clawhammer, are really descendants from the gods. Yes, that's it. One day they will come back and take us away, or at least that is what my wife hopes for. Very cool pic.
The Old Timer - Posted - 05/30/2011: 14:10:46
Clearly a visitor from the system Sirius (Dog Star), who in addition to geometry, architecture, writing, arithmetic and sociology, also brought us the banjo, back then, truly "that half barbaric twang" the way they played it in the old country. The REALLY old country.
brokenstrings - Posted - 05/30/2011: 20:22:26
I love the song titles you guys came up with.
pickinchik - Posted - 05/31/2011: 08:20:22
Cool Marc.
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 05/31/2011: 08:39:33
quote:
Originally posted by MarkRB
I think it is an alien from outer space. And all of us who play banjo, especially clawhammer, are really descendants from the gods. Yes, that's it. One day they will come back and take us away, or at least that is what my wife hopes for. Very cool pic.
Evidently you missed your chance last week...
banjered - Posted - 05/31/2011: 13:02:17
"Evidently you missed your chance last week..."
Uh, yes. We have the raptured and we have the banjo players. To all those planning on not being here after October, please send me your banjos and I will feed and water them with great care. Along with your pet banjo, please send $100 maintenance fee, non-refundable of course. If the unexpected occurs and you find yourself still here in November, I will return your banjo for $1000, shipping and handling included. If your banjo is over 5000 years old, all fees will be waived. Banjered (Oh Boy!!!$$$$$$$)
Ron Barnes - Posted - 06/02/2011: 10:26:20
I couldn't be absolutely sure, but I think it may be a Gibson "All Egyptian" or maybe a "Toot Uncommon" plectrum. They didn't make many of them to begin with and no five strings at all..............there used to be a guy down in Jericho that made some really nice repro necks. I'll bet Joe Spann has one or two listed in his new book.................LOL
Ron
stanger - Posted - 06/02/2011: 10:43:18
quote:
Originally posted by SaxManiac
So, I guess they're claiming this is a pre-war banjo?
Yup. Pre- Canaan conquest war.
regards,
stanger
Ron Barnes - Posted - 06/02/2011: 11:35:30
Oooops, my mistake in teminology, I meant "All Arabian". Yep, I'd say it's "pre-several-wars" and a couple of empirical conquests. 
Ron
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 06/02/2011: 23:53:06
But I think those look like new strings ... probably Nylguts!
Paul R - Posted - 06/03/2011: 04:51:53
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Nerenberg
But I think those look like new strings ... probably Nylguts!
"Minstrel" or "classical" set?
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 06/03/2011: 05:39:28
quote:
Originally posted by Paul R
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Nerenberg
But I think those look like new strings ... probably Nylguts!
"Minstrel" or "classical" set?
"Wandering Minstrel", no doubt.
John Steele - Posted - 06/03/2011: 11:17:18
There is a very interesting display in the New York City Museum of Natural History showing prehistoric instruments, many of which fall into the banjo's "membranaphone" group.
- John
Edited by - John Steele on 06/03/2011 11:17:37
Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 06/03/2011: 16:13:55
quote:
Originally posted by John Steele
There is a very interesting display in the New York City Museum of Natural History showing prehistoric instruments, many of which fall into the banjo's "membranaphone" group.
- John
I think the last time I went there was before I took up the banjo. Now I have to go back with my more educated eyes. Thanks for the tip!
