Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

  1. #1
    Is there a "talent" knob? Christian McKee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    704

    Default Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    Hi everyone,

    I'm on the hunt for music by Black American musicians and composers that was either written for or first performed on the mandolin, particularly art/classical music, since I have some solid leads already from the string band world of the early 20th century.

    The name of the composer and performer Silas Seth Weeks (often listed as Seth Weeks) has been recommended to me. He lived approximately 1868-1953, toured as a performing musician, directed at least one mandolin orchestra, composed and taught music all over the country and published many compositions for mandolin. The trouble is: I can't seem to find any.

    Hard copies of some of his compositions are available in the Library of Congress, but I live in Portland, OR, and I'm not quite ready yet to hop on a plane for this project.

    Does anyone here have copies of music by Seth Weeks, or other Black American mandolinists or composers who wrote for mandolin? I'd be very interested to hear or see anything fitting this description. Thanks in advance!

    Christian
    Christian McKee

    Member, The Big North Duo
    Musical Director, The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra

  2. #2
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    13,087

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    Ditto here.

    Christian: I have a mandolin ensemble arrangement of "At a Georgia Camp Meeting," which was recorded by Weeks ... but written by a white composer.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  3. #3
    Unfamous String Buster Beanzy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Cornwall & London
    Posts
    2,920
    Blog Entries
    5

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    Got to love the internet....

    Bit more on his story from a Tacoma perspective here
    https://tacomatales.org/2021/06/15/s...-his-mandolin/

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	6ED6012A-4513-43E2-9065-8193D1DF2A4F.jpeg 
Views:	63 
Size:	32.4 KB 
ID:	198961 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	65AE98AF-D94C-4629-BDEC-2BA9A7585271.png 
Views:	68 
Size:	186.2 KB 
ID:	198963





    And Neil Gladd elegantly performing Polka Caprice


    Neil would probably be your best source for compositions by Seth Weeks as he includes three of his works in one of his publications;
    Grand Concert Polka (1900)
    Laburnam Gavitte
    Polka Caprice

    http://www.neilgladd.com/Publications/NGP%202002.html


    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	2D888268-4439-485E-AB8F-57F1F034B49A.png 
Views:	68 
Size:	398.7 KB 
ID:	198962

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Weeks
    Last edited by Beanzy; Jan-22-2022 at 4:36am.
    Eoin



    "Forget that anyone is listening to you and always listen to yourself" - Fryderyk Chopin

  4. The following members say thank you to Beanzy for this post:


  5. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    I will have to dig through my pile of old sheet music but I believe I may have some of his pieces or possibly even a book. I will see what I have.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  6. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    Back in 1989 some of my friends and I participated in a concert at Carnegie Hall that was a recreation of a 1912 concert of music composed by James Reese Europe a black composer. It included a plectrum ensemble of ten each mandolins, banjos and guitars.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  7. The following members say thank you to Jim Garber for this post:


  8. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Indepndence OR
    Posts
    635

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    I need to track down the source, but I believe I read in someone's doctoral dissertation that James Reese Europe was the first African American to play Carnegie Hall. Now I also have to go back and see if there is any music available. CMSA's Education Committee should take note of this in line with the diversity and inclusion goals.
    jim
    Jim

    Dr James S Imhoff
    Boston University
    Oregon Mandolin Orchestra

    1912 Gibson K4 Mandocello; Thomann Mandocello; Stiver F5; American? Bowlback; Martin 00016; Dusepo Cittern/liuto cantabile

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Jim Imhoff For This Useful Post:


  10. #7
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    1,130

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    James Reese Europe 369th Harlem Hell Fighters Band CD
    Compositions

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	James Reese Europe.jpg 
Views:	85 
Size:	506.9 KB 
ID:	199057

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	369th.jpg 
Views:	83 
Size:	250.6 KB 
ID:	199058

    In WWI the band marched through no man's land under enemy fire playing "Memphis Blues".

  11. The following members say thank you to Jacob for this post:


  12. #8
    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Ann Arbor/Austin
    Posts
    6,277

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    Amazing photos Jacob.

    "Stuck Inside of No Man's With the Memphis Blues Again"

    Note they switched to French army uniforms and helmets in the second photo, which perhaps is in the spring following the wintertime first image.

    Those US coats look warm,

    Mick

    Edit: I assumed the top photo was taken in France (Paris?) but perhaps that is incorrect.
    Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
    ______________________

    '05 Cuisinart Toaster
    '93 Chuck Taylor lowtops
    '12 Stetson Open Road
    '06 Bialetti expresso maker
    '14 Irish Linen Ramon Puig

  13. The following members say thank you to brunello97 for this post:


  14. #9
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,736

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Back in 1989 some of my friends and I participated in a concert at Carnegie Hall that was a recreation of a 1912 concert of music composed by James Reese Europe a black composer. It included a plectrum ensemble of ten each mandolins, banjos and guitars.
    Here is the NYTimes article in their archives: https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/09/a...egie-hall.html

    And this is a scan of the actual article.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	ClefClubarticle_071789.jpg 
Views:	65 
Size:	490.1 KB 
ID:	199094
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  15. The following members say thank you to Jim Garber for this post:


  16. #10
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    1,130

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    The 369th Infantry Regiment was not utilized in combat by the US Army.
    However, they were welcomed into the French army and wore those uniforms in battle.
    The first photo may have been at their welcome home parade in Manhattan.
    There is a wealth of information on the unit's formation, training, and combat service on YouTube.
    The band was instrumental (pun intended) in spreading the popularity of ragtime and jazz across France.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	369th Band.jpg 
Views:	71 
Size:	48.9 KB 
ID:	199096
    Last edited by Jacob; Jan-25-2022 at 10:48pm.

  17. The following members say thank you to Jacob for this post:


  18. #11
    Is there a "talent" knob? Christian McKee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    704

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    Hi everyone,

    Thanks to all of you for the interest and chiming in. Jim Garber, if you do find anything in your archives I'd be very excited to see it. I emailed with Neil G., and while his spirit was willing, his home card catalog wasn't up to the task of locating what pages he might have. Jim Imhoff, CMSA folks are pursuing this general topic as well, I'm happy to know.

    Christian
    Christian McKee

    Member, The Big North Duo
    Musical Director, The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra

  19. #12
    Registered User Neil Gladd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Hyattsville, MD
    Posts
    871

    Default Re: Seeking music by S. Seth Weeks & other Black mandolinists

    I have found one of the Weeks pieces and copied 3 more while I was at the Lbirary of Congress, last week. First, an easy ensemble piece, Passing Guard March, for 1st and 2nd mandolins, mandola, and piano:

    http://www.neilgladd.com/Publication...GuardMarch.pdf

    Now, one of his LESS difficult solo pieces, his Grand Fantasia on Rock of Ages. I regard the next to the last chord of an engraving error, so feel free to change it!

    http://www.neilgladd.com/Publication...ndFantasia.pdf

    The whole last line of his Fantastic Dance is unpayable, edit as necessary!

    http://www.neilgladd.com/Publication...asticDance.pdf

    Finally, Verdi arranged by Weeks. There are a few engraving errors, especially the note alignment!

    http://www.neilgladd.com/Publication...nTrovatore.pdf

    Enjoy!

  20. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Neil Gladd For This Useful Post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •