High praise for a great man.

[Carl Anderton]

I chanced to meet an editor for Mel Bay publications last weekend at a
living history near St. Louis, Mo. He enjoyed the sound of the ol'
cremona and we discussed music for awhile. I mentioned Frank Converse
and later sent him a link to the entire copy of the Analytical Method
in The Clubhouse. Here is part of his reply:

Hello Carl-

Thank you for following up on our meeting last weekend at Boone
Village . I was genuinely intrigued with your copy of a 19th century
fretless banjo. The book by Converse is one of the most comprehensive
introductions to music notation and theory that I’ve seen. Thanks for
sending that pdf! Many of our authors could learn from it. My wife who
is a classically trained violist had not heard of the mordent for
example, and Converse explains it clearly. One of our new fiddle
authors indicated the mordent with the symbol for a trill, all the way
through her book.

______________

Now, this is from a guy who edits music books for a living.

And he's not praising the banjo instruction part of the book, but the
"Introduction to Elementary Principals of Music." Just think- not a
pianist, not a guitarist, not a composer per se, but a BANJOIST
created what my friend thinks is "one of the most comprehensive
introductions to music notation and theory."

I would like to add to that thought a comment from Converse himself:

"The banjo is played in two different ways;-- The one of the "Banjo"
and the other of the "Guitar" style of execution. The "banjo" style
is the most effective in giving expression to the peculiar quality and
characteristics of true banjo music;...

_____________________________

There you have it-- with ol' F.B. in our corner we cannot help but
prosper. It's a good time to be a stroke-stylist...