Banjos We Have Heard on High

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 03:30 PM

Thanks for the nice story, dick. It must have been great.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 10:21 AM

Yeah!

~S~

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 01:39 PM

Great story, Dick. One of nature's magic moments!

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 01:08 PM

A true Christmas story. Back, somewhere around 1950, I was walking with a friend to meet a lady who had been rehearsing at Juilliard; we were coming from a square dance, and I had a banjo, while he had a sopranino recorder tucked away in his pocket. As we approached the door, an apparition with wildly flowing hair and a large instrument case dqashed out--one Suzanne Bloch, by name.
   My friend, who had recognized her from a concert appearance, whipped out his recorder and played the the opening bars of "The Boars Head Carol" , and I picked out the next phrase on the banjo. Ms Bloch came to a screeching halt, opened the case and pulled out a 26 string (I think) theorbo. And there, in a light sprinkling of snow, we played Christmas music for a good half hour: Banjo for melody, theorbo for a ground bass and recorder playing descant. A truly wondrous experience.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:58 PM

Thanks for posting your song, Jed. I like it.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: GUEST,TI
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 10:55 AM

Whatever you do, don't listen to this song! I listened to it a couple days ago and haven't been able to get the darn thing out of my head since then.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: GUEST,Jed
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 04:13 PM

OOoops - Sorry - that was me above. I lost my cookie ....

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 04:12 PM

At Christmas the we make a joyous noise! What could be more joyous then a banjo? Why couldn't choirs of angels be singing songs to banjos? Why couldn't the tales of Christmases past be remembered with banjos playing? Yes - it's a little bit humorous ... but it's serious too. And the verses are phrases reminiscent of the most common, long loved Christmas songs ... I used them like you use the favorite Chrsitmas tree decorations you use over and over, year after - maybe some from your grandmother and some that the kids made in first grade ... but they all tie together to refresh the same, ancient theme .... but this time with a hint of humor,and a lot of banjo.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 01:07 PM

Thanks for the ideas and the lyric, Jed.

I played the video for Hardi yesterday and "got" the lyric for the first time-- and laughed my ass off. It starts with the ANGELS hearing the BANJOs-- of course!-- all the way from Earth. They can hear the tone of the banjo-- a nice nod to all the banjo jokes-- intentional?

But rest assured we have been using banjo in our Christmas music for years. It works well. This song would make SUCH a nice bridge-building opportunity between our formal choir and our Sat. night program. Don't suppose there's sheet music... for them? :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 12:21 AM

I actually played "Angels We Have Heard on High" on my banjo which is where I got the idea for this song ... banjo really does have surprising strength as a solo instrument at slow tempos. We are so used to hearing it fast as hell, or pluckity - but it works well pikcing out a soulful, slow melody.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 04:03 PM

If anyone is into playing Baroque music, I've found that a banjo's percussive quality does very well in substituting for a trumpet. TRy a sparse "Angels We Have Heard on High" or the "Boar's Head Carol" on a 5-string.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 03:42 PM

It could be done a capella - or just with strumming guitar or banjo ...

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 03:41 PM

Banjos We Have Heard On High
(c) Jed Marum, 2008

I heard a band of angels sing
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high
"And on this day a new born king!"
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high

CHO: Holy night, silent night
Lord of Lords and Light of Light
Angels sing, banjos ring
Praise the new born king!
Son of God and son of man
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high


In Bethlehem a bright and shining star
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high
Bearing gifts came three kings from afar
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high

repeat CHO

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 12:03 PM

Jed, none of us play banjo well enough to play that at our Saturday Night Service. Yet I find that we must. Please advise. Lyrics?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Darowyn
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 11:57 AM

This song is wonderful, but it should have a warning!
Once heard, never forgotten.
Great stuff Jed.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 10:06 AM

One of my favorite old tunes is Ragtime Annie, and Banjer plays it so well....


Then, just as a treat, This version, as a slow waltz is fascinating...watch it all the way thru...

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 09:15 AM

An instant classic! I can already envision an ABC animated Christmas special.
- Phil

Slow banjo can be cool. The first, and for a long time the only, version of The Band Played Waltzing Matilda that I heard was an Australian reocording of Eric Bogle singing with solo banjo accompaniment.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 11:46 PM

Dick - I think you're right; the greater challenge playing banjo is playing slowly! I do a very few songs with just a few sparse notes on the banjo ... slowly; SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT, sort of thing ... it seems count-intuitive to play so slowly, but it is lovely!

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 11:18 PM

Yep that one works.

The banjo bits aren't played too fast ... but we decided that if 1 banjo track sounded good, 5 would sound even better!

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 11:16 PM

I think that link I posted is incorrect.

This one should be correct.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 08:53 PM

THe hard part about banjo playing is to play it slowly--and still sound good. (conclusion based on 60-odd years of experience)

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 08:50 PM

Maybe with chia seeds.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 08:39 PM

Rapaire-

But can you grow moss on its neck?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 06:45 PM

I can pick up a banjo.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 06:36 PM

Even I can pick something like Five Foot Two fast enough in C to make a Flat Pick Guitarist work hard !!

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: GUEST,Slow Jam
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 06:19 PM

Playing a banjo very fast - a bit like sex - it's possible to do it real fast, but would you really want to, and would it add to the experience!

"This is going to be the best 14 seconds of your life, Sheila!"

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 05:04 PM

See the new thread DoneganColyerBarberSunshinePatterson

You may be interested in that. I was only kidding about the person who started this thread Jed :-) You sparked me off.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 04:51 PM

Lonnie Donegan!!

What a treat!!!

Thanks for the link.

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 04:12 PM

And this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr3loTfRyJs&feature=related

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 04:04 PM

East your heart out banjo players :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbNlqXHVyoM

Subject: RE: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 04:01 PM

Banjo's who mentioned them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyE3LzSJ-wQ&feature=related

Subject: Banjos We Have Heard on High
From: JedMarum
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 03:53 PM

If it's not too early for Christmas, ya just can't have too much Christmas Banjo music!

Banjos We Have Heard on High.