June 29th Music Circle

Friday night's music circle saw several new faces, voices and a couple of 'new' instruments. Between 12-15 people showed up, including a family who play a lot at home, but were glad to find others of the same music mind. They included guitar, banjo, voice and spoons in their music bag. A mandolin player came, and added a nice touch, fitting in nicely and not being over-agressive (I find that a mandolin can become extremely irritating if it wants to be the dominant instrument). A very welcome addition to the circle.

Two members of a local Old Time string band, The Arthritis Brothers showed up, and brought along a very intense fiddle and banjo player. The youngster has only been playing old time music for less than 2 years, but sounds as if he was born to play! Very exciting, and friendly, as are all that have come. I really hope he returns often!

The intriguing instrument this night was an all-wood 5-string banjo. Extremely light, a nice, sweet dulcimer tone to it. The heaviest part of the instrument was the neck, putting it slightly off-balance in my opinion, but easily-played.

Tunes we played included: Soldier's Joy, Liberty, Angeline the Baker, Sourwood Mountain, June Apple, Buffalo Gals, Forky Deer, Mississippi Sawyer, Waterbound, Turkey in the Straw, Jawbone, Sugar Hill, Red Wing, Barlow Knife, Cluck Old Hen, Cotton Mill Girls, Worried Man, May the Circle be Unbroken, Sandy Boys, Shortening Bread, Bill Cheatham, Fortune, Cripple Creek and Spotted Pony.

Don't forget, the next Circle will be on Friday evening, July 27 - same music time, same music location (to paraphrase an old "Batman" line). Hear you there!The tape recorder was left behind again this month, so I apologize for no musical clips. I promise to try harder next month!