Rob MacKillop - Posted - 06/17/2014:  00:59:15

Born today in 1837, Frank B. Converse dominated the banjo world until his death in 1903, 21 years before the birth of Earl Scruggs. Converse was a great virtuoso, playing in both the old stroke style (similar to clawhammer) and the finger style. 

Much of his music scores can be found in pdfs on Joel Hooks' celebratory page HERE, along side some fine photos.

Over the years I made a few videos of a his fingerstyle tunes, but I urge you to seek out more by other performers, especially of his stroke-style compositions.

Everyone has their favourite banjo player, and Frank B. Converse is definitely mine. I hope you like his music too. I published some pieces by him in tab (and standard notation) in my Mel Bay edition, Early American Classics For Banjo, which also comes with a CD. 

Edit: Yikes, I'd like to redo some of these videos! But that's always the way of things...

Edited by - Rob MacKillop on 06/17/2014 01:12:27

Frank Converse	VIDEO: 19th-Century Banjo - Dell Schottische and Boquet Mazurka by Frank Converse (click to view)	VIDEO: Gumbo Reel and Pequot Galop - Classic Banjo (click to view)	VIDEO: The Dream - Mazurka (click to view)
VIDEO: Prelude and Blue Bells Of Scotland - Classic Banjo (click to view)	VIDEO: The Bag Pipes for Banjo by Frank Converse, 1871 (click to view)

Emiel - Posted - 06/17/2014:  03:44:21

Great post and fine banjo music, Rob.

revellfa - Posted - 06/17/2014:  03:53:59

That's some fine picking' there sir.

Greg Adams - Posted - 06/17/2014:  04:17:06

Great post Rob! I hope you are well. 

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 06/17/2014:  04:58:59

Cheers, lads. Yes, Greg, I'm doing fine, thanks! Busy as ever. 

dculgan - Posted - 06/17/2014:  05:08:50

Happy Birthday to Frank, For He's a Jolly Good Fellow! All the Frank Converse tunes that I do are a lot of fun to play and make great use of the banjo's characteristic sound. As Rob mentioned many are suitable for stroke or guitar style. Here's one that combines both:

 

Edited by - dculgan on 06/17/2014 05:10:20

Kentucky Juba

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 06/17/2014:  05:12:39

Yay, keep em coming! That was great, Dave.

bd - Posted - 06/17/2014:  06:19:01

I find a lot of Converses arrangements pretty difficult--though I certainly enjoy listening to others play them-- so I've only managed some his really easy stuff. Here's a couple I like playing: 

VIDEO: Rattlesnake Jig (click to view)

VIDEO: Lynchburg Town (click to view)

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 06/17/2014:  07:39:41

Well, B D, he did indeed write some difficult pieces, some which I won't go near, but he music for all levels. I love the two performances you give here. Rhythmically tight, with good technique. Keep up the good work, and those hard pieces won't seem so hard some day. Great stuff.

Any other contributors?