In the year 1320, Dante finished his colossal poem the Divine Commedia (Divine Comedy) which depicts his vision of the afterlife. This three-part narrative poem contains over 14K lines describing the soul`s journey through the Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory), and Paradisio (heaven). For the inaugural juried art show of 2021, the local art league tasked its members with fashioning works based on Dante`s classic literary trilogy.
Because of the allusion to “banjo hell” in many contemporary cartoons as seen below, the BRC founder studied Dante`s 9 Circles of Hell described in the Inferno verses. Misdeeds such as lust, gluttony, greed, heresy, violence, and fraud are each assigned a separate Circle in the descent into Hades, but the banjo appears nowhere in the catalogued strata of wrongdoings. Where did the satanic 5-string myth begin? Traditional fiddle tunes include such mysterious titles as “Hell Among the Yearlings” and “Devil in the Strawstack.” In the old-time fiddle favorite “Hell Broke Loose in Georgia” recorded in 1929 by Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers, the banjo is barely detectable.
Is the aforesaid infernal habitat of the banjo a misplaced appellation? To challenge this cultural and puzzling injustice to the 5-stringer, the BRC founder designed an instrument entitled “Devil`s Dream” which was accepted and exhibited in the Divine Comedy art show.
Devil`s Dream is a spritely fiddle tune of unknown origin which has been adapted to the banjo because of the melodic flurry of notes in its up-tempo theme. The BRC banjo builder first heard the instrumental performed by clawhammer banjoist Michael Cooney on an LP of sea chanteys recorded in 1973 by the National Geographic Society. In Ireland and Scotland, this old reel is known as “Devil Among the Tailors.”
The satanic mother of pearl imagery and molten brimstone of crushed opal on the peg head, fingerboard, and heel speak for themselves. Studying the fretboard cavalcade of skulls, a gallery visitor remarked, “Alas, poor York! I knew him…” (from Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1).
The Devil`s Dream 5-stringer hangs amidst a field of 62 watercolor and oil paintings, sketches, sculptures, and multi-media works.
To acknowledge the misguided myth of demonizing the banjo, the ninth mother of pearl inlay traditionally stationed at the 19th fretspace on this banjo neck was treacherously moved up to the 20th fretspace on the fingerboard (above). The Ninth Circle of Hell is treachery. The heel of the banjo, a BRC signature site for a mother of pearl inlay for the eyes only of the musician, displays a skull with fiery opal eyes gazing at the banjoist (below).
In a facebook online video tour of the juried show, the art critic who judged the entries commented that the BRC craftsman was “famous” for his banjos. The art league executive director predicted this “rock `n roll” 5-stringer would sell promptly.
(Ed. Note: Is there a banjo heaven?)
A few years back, the BRC founder penned a ballad he called the “Fiddler`s Hymn” to nostalgically honor an elderly old-time fiddler who had passed away. This tune appeared on his first BRC album to benefit the Children`s Hospital.
The song was broadcasted on the radio as background music for a public service announcement about the pediatric medical center. Enjoy the above sound file. All music and vocals are by the author (copyright 2004).
From the BRC: Don`t fiddle around- wear a mask, practice social distancing and hand hygiene.
