Banjo Hangout Newest 100 Songs

This is my first quick take on Melvin Wine's tune Lovely Jane, which I was inspired to figure out this past weekend after listening to Carl Baron and Janet Foster's wonderful versions posted for the Old Time Tune of the Week last Friday. This is clearly a close cousin to Doctor, Doctor, but more interesting.

The immense home of the MacDermott Roe family was Turlough O'Carolan's favorite place. It's where he returned after traveling as a blind Irish harpist and bard to pass his final days in 1738. Henry was the son of these patrons and a friend to O'Carolan, but he failed to live his life completely honorable and almost lost the blessings of his mother. However, all became well again and O'Carolan composed many of his songs in honor of the MacDermott Roe's. You can hear this story in the three settings -- first a happy life with the MacDermott Roes, then the shame of Henry's foibles in whom he married and how he squandered the family wealth, and at last the happy ending of forgiving and enjoying life. Of course, life isn't summarized so simply, but it helps to use one's imagination.

From the always delightful playing of WV fiddler Melvin Wine, here's the TOTW for 12/27/19. The B part is crooked and leads back to the A part quite easily.

Short audio for TOTW 12-27-2019

A tune I learned while playing banjo to Melvin Wine's fiddling. aDAde

Here's a recording of my newest original tune. I thought it would be cool to record it as a series of duets, like a relay race. Each instrument plays the melody, then the backup, then drops out. And recording myself like this always makes me realize that my fiddling is not on par with my other instruments, but whatever. I'll keep practicing.