Cell Perches & HVO

A Key to Life

January 2, 2018

Some people are plagued to identify existential meaning in their mundane lives by asking themselves questions. Bluegrass musicians are plagued at jam sessions to identify the key in which the next tune will be played by asking themselves questions like: Is a capo needed? Did I remember to bring a capo? Does anyone have an extra capo to lend? What are the words of the group chorus of this number? As pickers re-tune their instruments (an endless tyranny of the banjo)  and chat between songs, there is a background tide of noise through which the title, tempo, and key of the next number must be announced. To penetrate these subtle but competing distractions, the song leader will typically designate the key of the tune and append it with a monosyllabic word to reenforce that letter of the alphabet like a military call letter ( Alpha, Bravo, Charley, etc.). Hence, the Key of D major would be proclaimed as “D-dog.” Over the years, the BRC founder`s band has evolved its unique and fun-filled musical key identifying system:

A-  artistically, or  alternately, “the Canadian key of Aye?” More recently, aardvark.

D- Django

C- Chopin

G- gnu or sometimes, “The gnarled gnome gnashed its teeth at the gnat-covered gnu.”

B major- Beethoven, Brahms, or Bach  (the choice is yours…)

B flat- Bartok (your choice again, but alternates  like ` Bluegrass` are ok)

The keystone to successfully establishing the key signature of an upcoming tune in a jam session is by keeping your fellow musicians keenly keyed into to the key of the song by whatever system works for you and your picking`pals.

IMG_5409

IMG_5414

Above are cross streets signs that one might encounter on a wintry stroll only a block from the BRC workshop and its keepsake Vega Martin Banjo Info archives. The BRC wishes all its faithful readers the Very Best in 2018!

G&F Singers

A Decade of Yuletide Cheer

December 20, 2017

For the last ten years, the BRC founder`s band and singing group have enjoyed providing festive Holiday sing-alongs for patients at the Children`s Hospital and at the University Hospital`s psychiatric center. The G&F Singers performed this week in the pediatric ward playroom where familiar tunes like “Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” were shared with patients and families. We always bring gifts of holiday-decorated surgeon`s caps sewn by our nurses for the kids and siblings.FullSizeRender

The adult psychiatric in-patients were entertained last week in the center`s activity room.  At the end of the performance, we sang “White Christmas” for them as they headed back to their ward. Gainor & Friends then paused for intermission and a group photo by the staff.  When the children in-patients subsequently arrived for their songfest,  our musicians welcomed them with a jazzy instrumental version of “Greensleeves.” The kids  promptly joined us singing Yuletide standards including the ever favorite  “Jingle Bell Rock.”Image

The G&F band members and singers are grateful for the privilege to entertain these special audiences at Holiday time over the last decade. The BRC founder thanks these skilled musicians and vocalists for their Seasonal spirit and year round generosity.

Art Shows

A Ribbon and Thanks

November 17, 2017

Intent upon introducing his newest grandchild early to the finer things in our world, the BRC founder transported the infant in a marsupial baby carrier to the opening reception of a seasonal community art exhibit. The juried show was adjucated by a judge from the art department of a St. Louis university. At the awards ceremony, the little tike and his grandfather were delightfully astonished to discover that granddad`s “Ozark Rose Mallow` banjo, which had been quietly entered into the competition, had garnered a colorful Honorable Mention ribbon.IMG_5241

The open back instrument had been hung by the front window of the exhibit hall adjacent to a seaside oil painting and overlooking a nook where a jazz duo softly played background music for the milling patrons.FullSizeRender (58)

 

 

 

The Mayor of our fine city and his lovely wife graciously posed for a photo by the banjo with the BRC founder and his dozing grandchild while a fellow musician looked-on.

FullSizeRender (57)

With Thanksgiving only days away, check-out the below video link for a note of appreciation to a special group of Bluegrass pickers as compiled by a journalism student from a nearby campus.  The BRC workshop wishes all blessings to our faithful readership this holiday of Thanks.

 

 

Antique Banjos

Sears and Roebuck catalogue banjo

November 3, 2017

From 1893 to 1901, the Sears and Roebuck Company contracted with S.S. Stewart Co. of Philadelphia to build banjos for sale as the `Acme`  brand via catalogue marketing. Most but not all of these instruments bore the `Acme` label, and a few had incidental `S.S. Stewart’ markings. Some banjos were unmarked but clearly an S.S. Stewart product, although the Bay State and Luscomb manufacturers  made strikingly similar designs in that era probably in response to buyer preference.IMG_5332 - Version 3

One such unmarked but well-crafted 5 stringer appeared for repairs in the BRC workshop this autumn.  The tip of the peg head of this high-end instrument had a subtle absent white mother of pearl diamond amidst a cluster of 4 intact inlays.

Two yellow abalone inlays (arrows) were missing from the upper fretboard`s elaborately engraved wreath and wire floral pattern, and small wood chips were fractured off the neck- pot junction area.IMG_5362

The spun over rim,  brackets, and talon tailpiece had a soft golden hue suggesting an unplated brass alloy, and the heel of the neck was festooned with handsome wood carvings.

IMG_5337

The color tone of the inlays had aged significantly over the last century, and newly installed white mother of pearl was at least a half-tone different from the native peg head inlay.

A similar yellow abalone to somewhat match the discolored fretboard decorations was hard to locate but eventually obtained from a shop in Taiwan.IMG_5367

The neck had no truss rod and about a 5 degree forward bend to it. The inlay pattern and wood defects were patched-up gently because the wood was so dried-up and fragile that it was  prone to crumble.IMG_5371

 

The owner was advised to get nylon strings to prevent further deformity of the neck of this vintage banjo that still had a charming and warm tone.

IMG_5381

Art Shows

Autumn Weekend of Art & Heritage

October 16, 2017

FullSizeRender (31)Behind a row of sculptures in a quiet corner of the 58th Annual Boone County Art Show , a “Tiger Burning Bright” banjo patiently hangs inviting the inquisitive eyes of patrons. This feline 5- stringer is named after one of the BRC founder`s  favorite poems written by  William Blake (1757-1827).IMG_5155 - Version 2

 

 

 

Although there were over 200 works on display in the weekend exhibit, a visitor remarked at the opening reception that it was one year ago that a BRC banjo first made its daring initial appearance at this yearly juried show of diverse paintings and other creative works.

Under propitious autumnal skies a few miles away, the quaint village of Arrow Rock held its 49th Annual Heritage Festival. The nostalgic architecture of this sleepy 19th century community served as the movie set for the musical `Adventures of Tom Sawyer` and for scenes in the subsequent `Huckleberry Finn` sequel film.FullSizeRender (47)

 

IMG_5859

The BRC founder and his pickin` pals were invited to provide  traditional Missouri music for the festival goers in front of the historic Christian Church built in 1872. In the film adaptation of Mark Twain`s classic novel, this is the church where Tom and Huck show-up alive at their funeral to the astonishment of the mourning congregation.

 

Although it was an unseasonably balmy Saturday for celebrating the changing colors of the autumn  landscape, Sunday brought overnight thunderstorms introducing surprisingly chilly breezes to our Show-Me state.