Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life
On a Cello Banjo no less! I gotta say, I'm not sure I've ever seen a Cello-size Banjo before but I like it! Robby Faverey has some amazing talent and I hope you check out more of his work on YouTube. https://youtu.be/CSUUajaRdzM ENJOY! If you are still interested at this point, check out more about … Continue reading Bach Cello Suite, Prelude
https://youtu.be/a4Xlyi8Is98 "I'm On My Way" from Rhiannon Giddens' album 'There is no Other' with Francesco Turrisi.
The Battle of New Orleans, 8 January 1815 - "On January 8, 1815, Major General Andrew Jackson led a small, poorly-equipped army to victory against eight thousand British troops at the Battle of New Orleans. The victory made Jackson a national hero. Although the American victory was a big morale boost for the young nation, … Continue reading Eighth of January
A little cowboy movie music isn't a bad thing. Hollywood has produced some good music with the vast resources it has at its disposal. Here is a link to My Rifle, My Pony, and Me / June Apple from the film Rio Bravo (the hot links will take you to lyrics). https://youtu.be/v2ssbgThljU If you know … Continue reading Monday Morning Music
I should say it's Classic Banjo Time. The modern banjo has ancient roots and shares much with it's African antecedents. Its connection to the lute family along with the whole array of drum-headed cousins crossed many lost cultural boundaries in ancient times. This makes it the perfect candidate for bridging musical genres and styles, from … Continue reading Classical Time – for the Banjo-ista
By Léon François Comerre, French Academic School. I think this familiar looking instrument comes from Africa via the Arabic world and is generally called a tanbūr. A sort of distant uncle to the modern banjo, America's African instrument. The only thing missing is the drone string.
This post was prompted by a few photos I recently took to document some of my projects. I fully disassembled , repaired some problems, refinished, and did a full set-up on my Banjo. Not surprisingly, it was a bigger job than I hoped for but really paid off in the end. When I built this … Continue reading Banjo
To start the week off right, Clifton Hicks - Hills of Mexico https://youtu.be/h7AB415L4Y4
Some real hand-made music. https://youtu.be/95nYQHAR-Qo
Painting by American Realist Thomas Eakins 1844-1916.
As if I didn't have enough irons in the fire... I decided to make (and learn) a new instrument this summer; a three-string cigar box guitar. It took a few weekends to get it right; figure out the design, apply a finish, and re-work a few details in the setup before I was pleased with … Continue reading Distracted and Sidetracked More Than Usual
"What are ears? What is Time? that this particular series of sounds called a strain of music, … can be wafted down through the centuries from Homer to me, and he have been conversant with that same aerial and mysterious charm which now so tingles my ears? What a fine communication from age to age, … Continue reading Woody, Pete, and Some Hand-Made Music
As an undaunted woodworker I have made most of my musical instruments over the years. I could never justify purchasing a high-end, high-quality instrument but I could make a reasonable proxy. My interest has been rekindled in the last couple years, making my third banjo for myself and reviving one of the mountain dulcimers as … Continue reading Home Grown Music
The heart and soul of a people, no matter where you are.
For the love of home-made music. Click the link below the image for the story. The CBG Procrastination: A Tale in Open G.
A simple, short tune that in the hands of master craftsmen becomes truly great. And it's a real American Classic. I guess the South isn't all bad. https://youtu.be/iV4POl_Jrw8
A little historical banjo for a musical Monday. Nothing comes from nothing. The banjo is truly American with roots in Africa, the mother of us all.
A post I've been hanging onto; a bit off-topic, personal, and possibly without any point. I am an unlikely banjoist. I got a very cheap banjo when I was 14 years old but didn't find a teacher. I took a couple lessons from uninspired twenty-somethings but didn't get much from them. Fortunately, this didn't stop … Continue reading The Unlikely Banjoist
Pete Seeger, The Incomplete Folksinger Rest in Peace I was a closet banjo picking classical music major when I really got into Pete Seeger. A great man with high morals, and a willingness to fight for what he believed in.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 