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MMD > Archives > July 2016 > 2016.07.27 > 05Prev  Next


Piano Rolls I Hate
By Kip Williams

The mention of "Dueling Banjos" brings several things to mind.
I have sheet music for it, under the name "Feuding Banjos"
(a somewhat different earlier version), though it never sparkled
like the performance on the soundtrack.  It does have the familiar
"Da da DA da DA da DA da DA", but goes about it differently.

So, one day our friends Steve and Elaine were visiting, and we
went to Circuit City to look at CDs (which was something one did in
those days when not busy liking Ike), and I happened upon Rhino's
"Appalachian Stomp" compilation and was looking at the tracks listing.

"Whatcha got?" said Elaine. "Well," I said, "This looks like it has
every bluegrass tune I ever really wanted. Here's Foggy Mountain
Breakdown, and Orange Blossom Special, and Jed Clampett, and Dueling
Banjos".  "That's my brother," she said.

It turns out that Elaine's brother is the "other" musician on the
tune, the one whose name isn't on the label and who never got a lot
of money or fame out of the deal.  I bought the CD, even though he
probably didn't get a cut.

Long before that, I was at a concert where John McEuen was the
opening act.  He was the best part of the show.  He played the
familiar Clementi Sonatina, which was good.  He asked if there were
any requests, and since he was holding a banjo when he said it, you
can guess what the loudest request was.

"I get requests for that a lot," he said, "But I'm just one man!"
He held up his banjo.  "However, since there are so many requests,
I have worked out a solo arrangement of the song, which I will play for
you now."  There was anticipatory applause, and he took up the banjo.

"Da da DA da DA da DA da DA."  He played.  And bowed.

Kip Williams


(Message sent Wed 27 Jul 2016, 20:59:56 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Hate, I, Piano, Rolls

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