Don,

I thought of you when I was watching this. I knew it would be right up your alley.

Quote:

Q: Early in the program it said the banjo was an "African instrument" then, later, they said it was an "American instrument." Which is it?



From http://www.ehow.com/about_4884892_what-origin-banjo.html

“Wrongly believed by many to be an American instrument, the banjo dates back centuries with its earliest origins found in the Middle East and Africa. While it slowly evolved for centuries, it was not until enslaved Africans brought the banjo to the American colonies that it received its significant gain in popularity.”

End quote.

I think it would be safe to say that the latest stage in the evolution of the banjo into a “modern” instrument happened in America, but I’m not an expert on it. I did find the documentary fascinating.

Quote:

I know "hammer-ons" and "pull-offs" date back perhaps hundreds of years but I have never credited Pete Seeger with originating those terms. What had they been called prior to his book?



When Pete said that, it was news to me. Dunno what those techniques were called before.

I’m glad you enjoyed it Don.

Bob
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http://soundcloud.com/bobcflatpicke/music-in-the-mountains