Martin Simpson on his dad and the 5 string banjo
Martin Simpson writes:
As Folk Day at The Proms draws near, I am thinking about my father...
In October, I'll be playing at at its new venue at The Spa Theatre in Bridlington. I have a number of programmes and reviews of productions of light operas from there featuring my dad at his most handsome, in the early 1930s. The first time I set foot on a stage was with him, at what is now called The Plowright Theatre in
I'll be singing it at The Albert Hall, and I'll be thanking him as I do every time I sing it. I think he'd be very pleased to know that it will be heard in that esteemed venue, even if it was just a 60s shed when he was a lad. 1860s that is.
Right now, I'm staring at a couple of old English banjos which are reclining in an armchair in the corner. One is a gut strung fretless which I first saw at the household about 35 years ago. Mike gave it to me last year on condition I fixed it, and I gave into the tender care of Barry Murphy who has restored it. It's roughly the same age that dad would be if he was still alive - 110ish, and it's slightly warped which is no cause for ribaldry. I'm delighted to be playing it. I LOVE the 5 string banjo, and if it wasn't so late, I'd strike up!
I'll be blogging you again on Monday.
Martin Simpson.
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Comment number 1.
At 21st Jul 2008, Maurice Condie wrote:I've got a 5String Banjo, just a cheep one. It's fun. I play it when I've had enough music.
I also play it all wrong, like a guitar player.
Wonder how many other guitar players have developed odd ways of banjo playing? Applying right hand banjo techniques to guitar playing works much better than the other way round.
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