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Blog: drawboy's cigar box (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Blog: OUPblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By Sarah Rahman
The four-, five-, six- stringed instrument that we call a “banjo” today has a fascinating history tracing back to as early as the 1600s, while precursors to the banjo appeared in West Africa long before it was in use in America. Explore these fun facts about the banjo through a journey back in time.
- The banjo was in use among West African slaves since as early as the 17th century.
- Recent research in West African music shows more than 60 plucked lute instruments, all of which, to a degree, show some resemblance to the banjo, and so are likely precursors to the banjo.
- The earliest evidence of plucked lutes comes from Mesopotamia around 6000 years ago.
- The first definitive description of an early banjo is from a 1687 journal entry by Sir Hans Sloane, an English physician visiting Jamaica, who called this Afro-Caribbean instrument a “strum strump”.
- The banjo had been referred to in 19 different spellings, from “banza” to “bonjoe” by the early 19th century.
- The earliest reference to the banjo in North America appeared in John Peter Zenger’s The New-York Weekly Journal in 1736.
- William Boucher (1822-1899) was the earliest commercial manufacturer of banjos. The Smithsonian Institution has three of his banjos from the years 1845-7. Boucher won several medals for his violins, drums, and banjos in the 1850s.
- Joel Walker Sweeney (1810-1860) was the first professional banjoist to learn directly from African Americans, and the first clearly documented white banjo player.
- After the 1850s, the banjo was increasingly used in the United States and England as a genteel parlor instrument for popular music performances.
- The “Jazz Age” created a new society craze for the four-string version of the banjo. Around the 1940s, the four-string banjo was being replaced by the guitar.
Sarah Rahman is a digital product marketing intern at Oxford University Press. She is currently a rising junior pursuing a degree in English literature at Hamilton College.
Oxford Reference is the home of reference publishing at Oxford. With over 16,000 photographs, maps, tables, diagrams and a quick and speedy search, Oxford Reference saves you time while enhancing and complementing your work.
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The post 10 fun facts about the banjo appeared first on OUPblog.
Blog: the dust of everyday life (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Bee, bear, Banjo, THEMED ART, Patrick Girouard, Add a tag
Blog: sketched out (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Sheesh! I just realized it’s been a while since I posted anything. What is going on with me anyway?
Well, here is a wee piggy I posted on Dueling Banjo Pigs a while ago. You really must visit that site. It’s piggy-licious and full of hammy goodness!
Blog: Whateverings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I worked up another contribution to the Dueling Banjo Pigs blog. Check out all the fantastic pigs with banjo illustrations that are posted there! Thanks Stacy and Guy!
Blog: Sugar Frosted Goodness (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pig, animal illustration, banjo, Add a tag
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: steve martin, harry and silvio, banjo, bluegrass, Add a tag
Boy, Steve Martin was great on Letterman last night.
Blog: Sugar Frosted Goodness (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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My second experiment involving 'pixeling' in 3D.
More stuff at Sevensheaven.nl
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I'm so happy for being part of Monday Art Day ATC! I've just made four cards so far, two of them go in their way to their new home... two are waiting for an owner ;)
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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This is my illo for excess. Godo doesn't like the excess of hot he feels in the subway in winter hehe...
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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This is based on a true moment that happened at my mom's. I guess my sister didn't mean to say that... or did she?
p.s. I made this entry for IFN.
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pati, fito, pet, Add a tag
It's been almost five months since I saw Fito for the last time. I left him in Venezuela along my mom... I miss him so much! He's 8 years old, super lazy, chubby, glutton and sweet. My mother says that he follows her around the house. I hope I can bring him up to Montreal next year :)
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I know her for real, in fact, we studied together at college and I must say that from the beginning I admired her a lot! She is not only ridiculously creative, but also a very nice girl. I love you, Jessi!
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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No doubt, she rocks! Thanks mummy ;)
A pig jig. So cute.
HA. Love it. A happy, dancing pig. Makes me feel like I should at least get out of bed…
So cute.
Nice one Linda!! Love how you do that reflected light thing – very cool!
You are talented!