Banjo Hangout Top 100 Traditional Songs

This old Scottish love song, based on William Douglas's poem in around 1700, was also the first performance attempt of Lotta Crabtree (1847 - 1923). Known now as the Shirley Temple of the 19th century, Lotta walked onto a school stage in San Francisco as a wee little girl under six years old. She burst into tears when trying to sing Annie Laurie and ran off stage. So, stage fright is certainly nothing new! She got over it and became a millionaire and successful Broadway performer, leaving her millions to charity in the 1920's.

Henry Reed learned these from the Civil War fifer Quince Dillon. The two tunes are both in Am and one leads easily to the other in a medley.

My arrangement of an old evergreen written by Henry Clay Work. Double C tuning, key of C. Warts and all.

This one's for Jim, whose playing is inimitable, but he's glad to have us join in!

For the brotherhood, from your sister. My favorite version has been Doc's.

Got this tune from BHO member Bill Reese. I really like the sound of this Sea Shanty!

At a music camp dance several years ago, Kit and I heard Heidi Claire fiddling this as the traditional last song of a dance. We just had to learn it and found a notated source by Elena Corey when she was active in the California Bluegrass Association. Here's our banjo/mandolin duet.

One of the good old hymns!

Trying out a "Presto" tailpiece on my B&P Short Scale. I was just messing around but would appreciate constructive comments that could improve my playing. I hope this recording is not to tinny sounding. I am tuned up to "DD" so the air is a little thin up there. A touch out of tune on the "A", sorry. (6-1-2012: I ended up putting the No Knot back on and just stuffed it a little more . . . I'll be back with another version.)

Here is my arrangement of Amazing Grace recorded with Kentucky 31 in 2002

One of the great old hymns.

Allowing myself to get all jazzy and crazy with June Apple, taking it wherever I want to go. Yes, it's over the top. Yes, it's sloppy. Hopefully it's also sort of fun and different and enjoyable in some fashion.

playing June Apple in the key of E (double C capo 4) on my Cedar Mountain banjo. accompanied by myself on uke and guitar, and Chloe on the cat sneeze if you have good ears.

Traditional Anglican Hymn

Two songs expressing a western theme.

One of the tunes I grew up on. 5-string cello banjo in gCGCD.

This old English ballad is powerfully emotional in melody and lyrics.

In A modal on Ome Juniper.

Though important historically as the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, the song is important to me as a useful lesson in learning melodic style. I used Tony Trischka's Melodic Banjo book.