No, this is post is not about Jane Austen, but rather, about the fact that I have posted the banjo music for Felix Arndt's Nola here on the site today.

This is of limited interest to almost everyone in the world, except for those few real banjo enthusiasts. But if you like acoustic music at all, then read on, and maybe I can convince you to download my mp3 of Nola (tune #15), listen to it, and actually dig it.

Okay, Felix Arndt wrote this tune for the piano and it was published in 1916, the year of my father's birth, as it happens. Felix named the tune for his wife, and wrote it as a tribute to her. It is subtitled "A Silhouette for Piano."

It's a wonderful tune on the piano, and most musicians know it to hear it. In the last couple of decades, many acoustic string musicians have arranged it for their instruments. I think this started with genius Bill Keith on the banjo

Okay, so you've got a tune written a long time ago, played on a weird hillbilly instrument, right? Well, only one point of view.

I prefer to think of it as a tune written for a beautiful woman, played on an instrument that leaps out and surprises you wonderfully when you actually hear music emerging from it!

If you don't think the banjo can be a beautiful instrument, try listening to this with an open mind - no prejudice against the banjo or Felix's pride. And then maybe download Bouree II also - that's played on muted banjo. Give it a try. I really love the stuff myself. But, hey ...

P.S. Dr. Elmo loved my rendition of Nola, so don't just take my word for it ...

Okay, Felix Arndt wrote this tune for the piano and it was published in 1916, the year of my father's birth, as it happens. Felix named the tune for his wife, and wrote it as a tribute to her. It is subtitled "A Silhouette for Piano."

It's a wonderful tune on the piano, and most musicians know it to hear it. In the last couple of decades, many acoustic string musicians have arranged it for their instruments. I think this started with genius Bill Keith on the banjo

Okay, so you've got a tune written a long time ago, played on a weird hillbilly instrument, right? Well, only one point of view.

I prefer to think of it as a tune written for a beautiful woman, played on an instrument that leaps out and surprises you wonderfully when you actually hear music emerging from it!

If you don't think the banjo can be a beautiful instrument, try listening to this with an open mind - no prejudice against the banjo or Felix's pride. And then maybe download Bouree II also - that's played on muted banjo. Give it a try. I really love the stuff myself. But, hey ...

P.S. Dr. Elmo loved my rendition of Nola, so don't just take my word for it ...