Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Clawhammer and Old-Time Songs

Key of D

Published 1823, from the opera Clari, or the Maid Milan. Lyrics written by John Howard Payne, an American actor, poet, playwright, and author who had most of his theatrical career and success in London. He is today most remembered as the creator of "Home! Sweet Home!", a song he wrote in 1822. Lyrics by Englishman Sir Henry Bishop.

Played on an Early Banjo by James Hartel, Sweeney Model

This version of Liberty is also called Liberty Two-Step, which distinguishes it from another tune called Liberty. (Check out the current Tune of the Week for 9/16/16 for more info.) I learned this one from John Burke's Clawhammer Book for Banjo back in the 70's and it was a popular square dance tune then. I think it's a pretty tune.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, this version of Liberty is from a 1925 Okeh recording of Fiddlin' John Carson of Georgia, said by many to be the musician who recorded the first country record (Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane and The Old Hen Cackled and the Rooster is Going to Crow).

This 3-part has the problem in that the C part actually should go lower than the range in double-d tuning, so I do it an octave higher, which makes it too much like the A part. It makes more sense when I'm playing with my mandolin-playing friend Mark.

This night the group was: Schroeder (banjo), Mathewson (mandolin), Jones (fiddle), Jones (bass), Gochenour (guitar), Wiseman (octave mandolin).

When I first learned this piece, 3-finger style, I hadn't checked out the composer's original recording. In this recording I play Canadian composer Frankie Rodgers' Ookpik Owl and then add the first version I'd learned. An Ookpik owl is the same as a Snowy Owl and is a main character in stories and legends, as well as being a popular Canadian stuffed animal. There are Inuit stories about Ookpik, which I think would be fun to collect. As my grandson is currently studying owls, this is a good time to re-visit and share Ookpik Waltz. It was a popular fiddle contest tune for a while and my grandson just began violin lessons. Good connections are made with a banjo!

Original CH tune. Double D tuning. Wildwood

With a school orchestra from youtube ...

More music of this kind: https://soundcloud.com/lonesomehans

With a tuba and some drums.

More music of this kind: https://soundcloud.com/lonesomehans