The Birth of the Banjo: Joel Walker Sweeney and Early Minstrelsy
Joel Walker Sweeney was, in essence, the Elvis Presley of the 1840s. A professional banjo player, Sweeney introduced mainstream America to a music (and musical instrument) which had its roots in the transplanted black culture of the southern slave. Sweeney, an Irish-American born midway between Richmond and Lynchburg, Virginia, sampled African American music at a young age. He then added more traditional southern sounds to the music he heard, in essence creating a new musical form. The only...
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Joel Walker Sweeney was, in essence, the Elvis Presley of the 1840s. A professional banjo player, Sweeney introduced mainstream America to a music (and musical instrument) which had its roots in the transplanted black culture of the southern slave. Sweeney, an Irish-American born midway between Richmond and Lynchburg, Virginia, sampled African American music at a young age. He then added more traditional southern sounds to the music he heard, in essence creating a new musical form. The only avenue available to a professional banjo player was that of traveling minstrelsy shows and it was this route which Sweeney used to bring his music to the attention of the public. Beginning with the banjo's introduction to America and Great Britain, the book provides an overview of early banjo music. The volume then discusses the evolution of American minstrelsy (i.e., black face) and the opportunities it provided for artists such as Sweeney. Correcting previous fallacies and misconceptions (such as Sweeney's supposed development of the five-string banjo), the work discusses Sweeney's roots, his music and his contribution to the physical development of the instrument. An appendix contains a performance chronology. The work is also indexed.
Acknowledgments vPreface 1African American Roots 3The Origins of Black Face Minstrelsy 6The Birth of a Banjoist 19On the Road in Great Britain 34Back in the United States: Touring with a Minstrel Band and Final Days 46The Virginia Minstrels and the Dawn of the Minstrel Show 55Ethiopian Serenaders: British Minstrelsy After Sweeney 76The Banjo in Australia 84Minstrel Touring in the American South 89P.T. Barnum's Black Face Adventures 102Sweeney's Repertoire 109Joel Walker Sweeney and the "Invention" of the 5-String Banjo 127Sweeney's Influence 138Sam Sweeney: War Years with J.E.B. Stuart 152A Sweeney Performance Chronology 163Chapter Notes 167Selected Bibliography 185Index 191
