Musical artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alfred Adolphus Farland Sr. (April 10, 1864 – May 5, 1954) was a Canadian-American banjoist, playing in the classic banjo style for more than 40 years.[1][4][5] He played the banjo wearing a tuxedo, bringing an air of sophistication to the instrument, when the 19th-century image for a banjo player tended toward the comic, the racist and the crude.[6] He had a reputation for entertaining "cultivated audiences" with banjo adaptations of European classical music.[7] Farland's adaptations included Bach violin sonatas, Beethoven violin sonatas, a Mendelsson violin sonata, Brahms dances, and some of Chopin's nocturnes and waltzes.[7] His performances of this kind of music on the banjo were seen in 1900 as successfully "stretching the limits of the instrument."[7]
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Alfred A. Farland
Portrait of A. A. Farland in 1902, holding one of his Artist's Grand banjos.
Farland based his performances initially out of Pittsburg, but later moved to New York, in order to be closer to potential students during his off season.[8] He wrote a banjo method and composed music for students to practice.[9]
Farland was also an inventor and designed his own line of banjos with wooden rims.[10] He held patents for banjo-related inventions, including an all-metal banjo head and an adapter to produce harp-like tones from a banjo.[11][12]
Alfred A. Farland, 1888, advertising as music teacherAlfred A. Farland, 1891 advertisement, music teacher 14 years experience
Alfred Farland was the youngest of nine children, 5 boys and 4 girls, his parents natives of Canada.[13][14] His family moved to the United States about 1865,[14] with some members being born in the U.S.[15] They were involved in the clothing-making industry. His father was a tailor, and Alfred and his brothers (and sometimes his sisters) worked in the woolen mills that turned sheep's wool into cloth.[16] Although he lived and died in the United States, he remained Canadian through at least 1920, becoming a citizen by 1940.[17][18]
In 1880 when he was 14 years old, Alfred Farland worked as a weaver in a woolen mill in Westerly, Rhode Island.[19] His brother, Joseph, lived nearby and also worked in the woolen mill.[20] About 14 years later, Alfred would receive acclaim in his music-playing profession, playing the banjo, accompanied on piano by his niece Annie, Joseph's daughter.[20][21]
He began to take lessons from music teachers in about 1877, when he was 13 years old.[22] He was good enough that five years later in 1882 he was able to work professionally, working within "concert companies."[22] In 1888 he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to teach, and by 1891 had taught more than 500 students.[22]
Stewart talks about Alfred A. Farland as a musician, after Farland surprised him in a contest-performance that Stewart sponsored. S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal, February–March 1893
Alfred A. Farland and Annie Farland, S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal, October–November 1893. Annie was his niece.[23]
After Farland's performance in Stewart's contest, Stewart ran a full page advertisement promoting them both, in S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal, December 1892.
Farland entered show business in 1884, the "minstrel days", as a "blackface comedian and song and dance man."[4] The minstrel show was a form of popular music for its day, and the banjo played a prominent role in the shows.[24][25] However, the music was seen as vulgar by men such as S. S. Stewart,[25] whom Farland would work with for years. It was music of drinking and partying, not to be listened to in the parlor.[25] Farland didn't stick with the minstrel music, but turned to European classical. He was able to break away from the minstrel acts following a banjo concert that he gave in 1893, a contest and concert sponsored by S. S. Stewart.[6] He impressed Stewart, who wrote, "We have, as yet, met no one who can duplicate Farland's performance on the banjo.[26] What had really impressed Stewart was Farland's adaptation of a Mendelssohn concerto, which Stewart knew to be a difficult piece on the violin, and even more difficult on the banjo.[26]
In embracing classical music on the banjo, he was joining men like Samuel Swaim Stewart, William A. Huntley and George W. Gregory, all of whom embraced playing the banjo on the stage, separating it from the minstrel-show repertoire.[27][28] After a career in blackface, Huntley broke ground by performing in "whiteface" on the stage in 1884, eliciting the newspaper comment, "Mr. Wm. A. Huntley is the only banjo artist in the country that has ever made a success in white face."[29] Early in his career, Stewart had included lessons for performing in blackface, but it was a small part of his larger business and magazine, both centered around a refined banjo image.[27] Gregory was the son of the president of a philharmonic society and had applied his classical-music knowledge to the banjo, beginning about 1892.[28]
Farland would become prominent in S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal,[30] and his repertoire focused on arrangements of European classical music (then contemporary music coming out of Europe) and a high level of technical skill.[31][32] His performances would inspire newspapers to label him "virtuoso."[32] Playing until he was about 70 years old, he would "average more than 100 banjo recitals per season for more than 40 years," playing across the United States and in England.[4]
A. A. Farland's published compositions and arrangements, 1902.
Description of Alfred A. Farland's 1898 concert season, from S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal, December 1898.
Farland adapted works by European composers to the banjo and played them across the United States.[33][34]
S. S. Stewart promotes Alfred A. Farland, February 1895 in S.S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal.[38]
On the final page of that journal, Alfred A. Farland endorses S. S. Stewart's Thoroughbred banjo.[38]
Farland had a business relationship with S. S. Stewart, endorsing Stewart's banjos and appearing in photographs in Stewart's Guitar and Banjo Journal holding Stewart's banjos.[39][40] For about 10 years, Farland toured the United States, traveling as much as 1000 miles in a day and playing classical music on one of Stewart's banjos.[23][10] He played Steward's Thoroughbred banjos, instruments which were hand-picked at the factory for their superior sound.[41][42] Some of Farland's audience was aware of the elite instrument, commenting on it in a letter to Stewart, which was published in his journal.[43]
Stewart in turn endorsed Farland in his journal, printing excerpts and whole pages about him, as well as Farland's concert schedule and upcoming concerts.[31]
Stewart died in 1898, and by 1902, Farland moved on, creating his own banjo and founding the A. A. Farland Company of Plainfield, New Jersey, to market his instruments and publish music.[44][45] He had his instruments made by such companies as Rettburg & Lange.[46][47]
Farland marketing his own banjo line.
In creating his own banjo, he said that he was looking for a particular tone, one that was "mellow."[45] Unlike Stewart, who idealized banjos with wooden rims covered with German silver as having the ideal banjo sound, Farland expressed that banjos sounded better with no metal in the rims at all.[45][48] In his 1902 catalog, he pointed out that the majority of metal banjo rims did not fit perfectly against the wood that lined them, and that the fit would change over time.[45] He said further that a wood-only rim increased resonance and volume, and eliminated the "hard metallic quality" of sound produced on a banjo rimmed with metal.[45]
A A Farland Artists Grand No 2 from A. A. Farland 1902 catalog
His 1902 catalog included a Concert Grand banjo for $50, Artist's Grand for $75, Artist's Grand No. 2 (more ornate) for $100, Baby Grand for $35, Black Beauty and Black Baby for $30.[45] He also marketed banjo cases, strings, tail pieces, bridges and a "harp attachment".[45] The latter changed the banjo's tone to be more harp-like.[45] He also offered variations of finish for the Baby Grand which made it as expensive as the Artist's Grand series.[45]
While he and Stewart differed on what made the perfect banjo, both were part of a movement to "elevate" the banjo with European music, and both had a program of educating the public to read sheet music to play on the banjo.[25][27][9]
Farland's method was called the National School for Banjo, and he composed music for the method to instruct students.[9] He also felt that advanced players and professionals would benefit from the books and find the music useful.[9]
While Farland played classical music, other classic style banjo players stayed away from classical music. Fred Van Eps and Vess Ossman disagreed with Farland's repertoire; they shied away from Farland's classical music emphasis, because the music lacked "proper banjo-like rhythm."[49]
Farland was a member of the American Banjo Fraternity and its first vice president.[1] The organization promotes and preserves knowledge of the classic banjo style of playing that Farland used.[1][50]
Carnival of Venice, variations on the folk song composed by Julius Benedict, arranged for banjo and played on banjo by Alfred A. Farland. This song is an example of Farland using tremolo to get long notes from the instrument (much as the cornet or violin can naturally play.)Carnival of Venice, variations on the folk song composed by Julius Benedict, arranged/played on violin by Jan Rudenyi.Carnival of Venice - played by Herbert L. Clarke on cornet, solo with orchestra - arranged by Arban
Alfred A Farland and George W Gregory in a full page advertisement in the New York Clipper by S. S. Stewart, 2 Dec 1893
Alfred A. Farland, banjoist, 1894, from S. S. Stewarts's Banjo and Guitar Journal, June and July 1894.
Portrait of A. A. Farland from Menuet A L'antique sheet music, 1895. According to contemporary source, Farland played an S.S. Stewart Thoroughbred.[43]
Portrait of A. A. Farland from Menuet A L'antique sheet Banjo, 1895. S.S. Stewart banjo.
Alfred A. Farland advertisement August 1900, from S. S. Stewarts Banjo, Guitar and Mandolin Journal, August 1900.
Compositions in A. A. Farland National School for the Banjo
Compositions in A. A. Farland National School for the Banjo
Alfred A Farland endorses SS Stewart banjos, April 1893.
A A Farland Artists Grand from A. A. Farland 1902 catalog
An A. A. Farland Artist's Grand banjo, in the collection of Rives McDow.
Side view of A. A. Farland Artist's Grand banjo. The rim of the body is wood; the mechanisms to stretch the soundboard are metal. The neck on this model was decorated with carving.
Peghead on A. A. Farland Artist's Grand banjo.
An A. A. Farland banjo, in the collection of Rives McDow
Mute mechanism of A. A. Farland banjo.
A. A. Farland Banjo strings. These were synthetic, made to simulate the gut-string sound without being as sensitive to humidity and temperature.
The following are examples from S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal in which Stewart promoted Farland by publishing advertisements, concert schedules, letters from the banjo world about performances, and in which Farland promoted Stewart's banjos with photographs, publicity on the road, and written statements about his use of Stewart's instruments exclusively. This sampling of articles represents a one-year period, about 4 years before Stewart's death in 1898.
1894, Feb-March, inside cover, Grand Musical Triumph[63]
1894, Feb-March, page 6, Farland and his banjo.[63]
"New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch ("New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WSK-PW5?cid=fs_copy: 11 February 2018), Alfred A. Farland in entry for Harry Maurice Farland, 07 May 1896; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 20925 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,334.: 11 February 2018), Alfred A. Farland in entry for Harry Maurice Farland, 07 May 1896; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 20925 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,334.
"Alfred A. Farland". Daily News. New York, New York. 6 May 1954. p.95. He entered show business in 1884 and was an active performer until 15 years ago.
Schreyer, Lowell H. (2007). The Banjo Entertainers: Roots to Ragtime, A Banjo History. Mankato, Minnesota: Minnesota Heritage Publishing. pp.172–173. ISBN978-0-9713168-9-8.
A. A. Farland Patent Wood Rim Banjo Catalog 1902. 1902. p.2. AS IS WELL KNOWN to most banjo lovers, Mr. Farland used one make of banjo exclusively for over ten years, because he was firmly convinced after testing all other leading makes that it was the best
"US1251360A United States". Be it known that I, ALFRED A. FARLAND, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Banjo-Heads...The primary object of the invention is the provision of a preferably metal head for banjos constructed in a novel manner to obtain satisfactory musical results and at the same time withstand the necessary strains without the resultant breaking thereof at the edge of the banjo rim where the strain is greatest. Another object of the invention is the provision of a head which will not be affected by climatic changes, does not stretch to any great extent, and also will better stand the strain to which the banjo head must be subjected to secure the best tonal results. A further object of the invention is the provision of a head for banjos which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in its purpose, and also which is in expensive in manufacture
"US584467A United States". Be it known that I, ALFRED A. FARLAND, a subject of the Queen of England, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harp Attachments for Banjos...The object of this invention is to provide an attachment for banjos whereby the character of the tone thereof may be changed whenever desired or the full or banjo tone to minor tones or tones similar to those of a harp...
"United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9VQ-5VX: 8 February 2023), Alf* Farland, 1900.
[In 1900, Farland reported to census takers that he had lived in the US for 35 years, arriving in 1865 as an infant born in 1864. He also listed his parents as born in Canada.]
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6RX-CY7: 29 May 2021), Edward Farland, 1870. [Alfred Farland had siblings born in Canada, Vermont and New York.]
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6RX-CYW: 29 May 2021), Harriet Farland in entry for Edward Farland, 1870. [In 1870, Joseph age 16, Ellen age 12, and Louise age 21 worked in the mill.]
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4SD-WL8: 14 January 2022), Freddie Farland in household of Edmann Farland, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4SD-W2X: 14 January 2022), Josep Farlin, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm. Name Josep Farlin Sex Male Age 25 Birth Year
(Estimated) 1855 Marital Status Married
Occupation Woolen Mill...Name Annie Farlin Sex Female Age 2 Birth Year (Estimated) 1878 Marital Status Single Race White Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
"S.S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal"(PDF). June–July 1894. [page 6] From the Des Moines Leader: Almost a Living Thing. Des Moines music lovers, especially the ardent admirers of stringed instruments, realized they enjoyed a rare privilege as they listened, Wednesday evening, to the renowned A. A. Farland. Notwithstanding the counter attractions, the audience was large and appreciative. Mr. Farland's playing is surely phenomenal, and the banjo in his hands seems almost a living thing. Mr. Farland's music is purely classical, and with the skill of a finished artist he rendered "Overture to William Tell," "Sonata Op. 30," Beethoven; "Concerto Op. 64." Mendelssohn; responding to encores after each number. He was ably assisted by his niece, Miss Anna Farland, piano accompanist.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
"Alfred A. Farland"(PDF). S.S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal. June–July 1894. He was ably assisted by his niece, Miss Anna Farland, piano accompanist...The Farlands, in their concert tour, traveled on an average a thousand miles per week, and were received everywhere with hospitality and kindly greetings and made to feel thoroughly at home among the different banjoists and teachers with whom they came in contact.
Gura, Philip F. (1999). America's instrument: the banjo in the nineteenth-century. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. pp.2, 140–141. ...by the 1840s the instrument and its music were transformed by white, working-class musicians who made the banjo integral to a new popular entertainment, the minstrel show...
Stewart, Samuel Swaim (February–March 1893). "The Academy Concert". S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal: 3–4. No man ever played the banjo as Farland plays it, and yet only such as have made the attempt and know how difficult it is, can appreciate his efforts. The "Mendelssohn Concerto" is one of the most difficult things that can possibly be attempted on the Banjo, and therefore can only be attained by a greatly developed skill in fingering, together with a well trained musical mind, so developed in concentration that the hands, and every finger of the hands, works in perfect union with the mind...The noted violinist, Mr. D. C. Everest, who was in the audience when Mr. Farland played, expressed his appreciation of the performance by saying that he knew what an extrememly difficult movement the Concerto was for the violin, and how much more difficult it was to render on the banjo, where sustained tones had to be produced without a bow, and by the aid of the tremolo.
Gura, Philip F. (1999). America's instrument: the banjo in the nineteenth-century. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. pp.140–144, 170–171. Stewart...he broke more decisively with the minstrel and variety-show repertoire, adapting and arranging European music...
Schreyer, Lowell H. (2007). The Banjo Entertainers: Roots to Ragtime, A Banjo History. Mankato, Minnesota: Minnesota Heritage Publishing. pp.152–154, 229–230. ISBN978-0-9713168-9-8. In the middle 1880s Huntley left minstrelsy again and concentrated on giving recitals, composing banjo music, teaching banjo, and advancing it as a legitimate instrument...
"William A. Huntley"(PDF). S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal. Vol.2, no.12. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: S. S. Stewart Company. Oct–Nov 1884. p.1.
"S.S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal"(PDF). August–September 1894. [numerous examples most issues from 1893 through 1900. In this issue examples on pages 6, 8, 11, 13, 14.]{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
"Alfred A. Farland". The Morning Journal-Courier. New Haven, Connecticut. 4 Mar 1897. p.2. ...is in every sense of the term a virtuoso, has been doing work that any violin virtuoso might be justly proud of...
"Alfred A. Farland, Plainfield". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. 5 May 1954. p.43. ...made nationwide tours as a banjo player...
S. S. Stewart (1893). S. S. Stewart's Celebrated Banjos Catalouge and Price-List. p.61. Every one of these instruments is thoroughly proved and tested in the most careful manner before being sold,...these instruments are not placed in the music stores, but are made in a limited number only, and sold directly to the experienced player who desires to obtain a reliable instrument without the possibility of a doubt.
"Farland and his banjo"(PDF). S.S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal: 13. August–September 1894. Farland's masterly performances necessitate an instrument in keeping with the master's musical skill. That is why Farland has always preferred the musical Stewart banjo...Only recently, after some rather tedious experiments with metals of different temper, a new instrument on the "THOROUGHBRED" model was finished and forwared to Mr. Farland, in Pittsburg for trial...
"untitled"(PDF). S.S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal: 11. August–September 1894. Mr. Farland made many friends while here. He is a thorough gentleman in every respect. That Thoroughbred Stewart banjo sounds like a harp when Farland plays in the high positions."
"A. A. Farland Concert Grand 5 String Banjo , c. 1918". As he was a teacher and performer he didn't actually build the instruments bearing his name, but subcontracted with the best builders of the day. This particular example was almost certainly made by New York's Rettberg and Lange, and shares many family traits with their more common Orpheum banjos.