Banjo
The earliest banjos, built by Black musicians in the Caribbean and on the east coast of the United States, were all made with gourd resonator bodies—similar to west African instruments like the ngoni, xalam, and even kora. There are only four surviving examples known to exist from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the gourd resonator had been replaced by a wooden rim, and over time acquired more and more machined, metal elements.
In the last several decades, there have been many Black musicians who have returned to the techniques and repertoire of the earliest banjo players. In order to interpret this music, they have turned to makers such as Pete Ross to make contemporary instruments that are inspired by features of historic banjos, such as the gourd resonator and the goatskin head attached to the gourd with upholstery tacks.
"Instruments such as this are not copies, however, as they include adaptations to make them more playable in a modern setting. Unlike the earliest banjos, the neck has both been raised to the level of the skin soundboard, and angled back to bring the strings closer to the fingerboard and enhance comfort and facility in playing. It also references the rounded neck of related African instruments, but in this banjo, the radius of the fingerboard is based on a modern electric guitar, and that of the peghead face is that of a violin fingerboard--both symbolic of the banjo's significant connections to other forms of music." - Pete Ross (2025)
In the last several decades, there have been many Black musicians who have returned to the techniques and repertoire of the earliest banjo players. In order to interpret this music, they have turned to makers such as Pete Ross to make contemporary instruments that are inspired by features of historic banjos, such as the gourd resonator and the goatskin head attached to the gourd with upholstery tacks.
"Instruments such as this are not copies, however, as they include adaptations to make them more playable in a modern setting. Unlike the earliest banjos, the neck has both been raised to the level of the skin soundboard, and angled back to bring the strings closer to the fingerboard and enhance comfort and facility in playing. It also references the rounded neck of related African instruments, but in this banjo, the radius of the fingerboard is based on a modern electric guitar, and that of the peghead face is that of a violin fingerboard--both symbolic of the banjo's significant connections to other forms of music." - Pete Ross (2025)
Artwork Details
- Title: Banjo
- Maker: Peter R. Ross
- Date: 2025
- Geography: United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: maple, gourd, goatskin, upholstery tacks, bone nuts, nylon strings, wenge tailpeice, rosewood tuning pegs.
- Dimensions: 42+1/2” by 11+1/2”. Most of that length it’s only 1-2” inches wide with an 11” gourd towards the bottom.
- Classification: Musical instruments
- Object Number: 2025.475
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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