The White Minstrels

THE WHITE MINSTRELS POLKA MARCH

This is a real old-timer !  The piece was written by a then well-known London banjo teacher and composer called Sam Payne, who dedicated the solo to his friend Will C. Pepper.   In 1896, Pepper had left the Pierrot company led by Clifford Essex, to form a Concert Party which he called ‘The White Coons’, a name which is considered unacceptable these days —  hence the alternative title.

It is written in what musicians call ‘Rondo Form’ which simply means that a particular phrase or section is repeated several times with alternative tunes in between, rather like a multi-layer sandwich.  In this case the ‘bread’ is in G major, three of the four ‘fillings’ are in the relative, E minor, and the fourth is in D major.   Payne introduces simple harmonics, slides on the third and fourth strings, and what Morley would call ‘Thumb Rasps’, — all with an attractive little repeated tune, which must have delighted the original audiences, and should please any modern banjoist.

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