Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme

Subject: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 09:59 AM

This looks like it'll be an interesting programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wdgr5

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 11:17 AM

Thanks for the notification Jack

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: EBarnacle
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 12:01 PM

Are we to assume that the reason that crew recruited themselves to go on the boat journey was that they did not like banjo music?

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 12:36 PM

Having just read the book, Shackleton's Boat Journey, I can well imagine how much having music must've helped. I don't recall reading anything about the banjo in the book, but the author was the captain and sailed with Shackleton, so I guess he was *spared*.:-) Banjo or no, the whole thing was quite incredible!

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 07:19 PM

You can see the banjo here.
It's an old Windsor zither banjo. It has 6 machine heads, but it is a five string, with the fifth string passing through a tube set into the neck to take it to the peg head.
Ray

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 07:41 PM

There's a picture of it HERE without the glass barrier. Quite a story!

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 07:46 PM

What a beauty ..

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: JohnB
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 12:00 AM

They also had a "Barrel Organ" on board the ship.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: banjoman
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 05:30 AM

I recall seeing a TV prog years ago where Shackleton was recruiting for his team. When asked what special talents he could bring to the team, one young man replied "Well I play the banjo" at which Shackleton turned to one of his comrades and asked "Do we need a banjo player" He was answered in the affirmative and turned to the man in question and said "Right -your in"
Dont know if this is close to the actual but as a banjo player I hope it is
Pete

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 05:36 AM

Thanks for the heads up! Sounds intriguing......

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 05:42 AM

Yes, I heard or watched a similar account, that at the final sort-out before setting off, Shackleton told the men to jettison every bit of gear they possibly could because carrying things slows you down and uses valuable energy. The banjo player held up his banjo and said something like Guess I'll have to leave this behind then, and Shackleton is supposed to have said no, to bring it, that they'd need the music.

Don't know how true this is, but it's a lovely story. (I'm sure there's another Cat thread on this topic because I seem to remember discussing it before...)

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 05:46 AM

Ah... here:

Review: Zither banjo on Shackleton

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46287

There are also some other related Shackleton links at the top.

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 04:32 AM

According to the programme Hussey set off without the banjo and Shackleton himself went back on board to get it saying it was ' vital mental medecine '

Dave H

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 04:46 AM

Well well, I have one of those Windsor banjos - it was my mother's from when she played in a banjo band as a kid. It's in need of some repair, which keep planning to give it, Must get round to that.

I heard the programme and thought it was an excellent piece of radio - just what the technology is for. And it also demonstrated the importance of good singalong music on the human spirit

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 04:52 AM

It was a wonderful programme, and nice to hear Pete Stanley on there too.

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: Rain Dog
Date: 30 Oct 15 - 05:35 AM

The programme was repeated this morning on BBC Radio 4 Extra at 06.30

It will be available to listen to for a further 29 days on the BBC iplayer

The original link in the first post will take you to the correct page

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 15 - 07:47 PM

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Shackleton's Banjo: BBC radio programme
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 30 Oct 15 - 09:00 PM

Yeah, thanks.