Here's a recording of it I did a year or so ago, its quite a bizarre piece and I'd thought I'd share it...I don't think I played very well...but oh well music is for sharing

http://chopinforum.com/~maxw/minstrels.mp3

Quite bizarre, yes. Actually, it reminds me of a bustling bazaar. (Oy, a bizarre bazaar...)

Do you still play it? I think that overall it could be a little lighter, and a little more capricious (with the dynamics and tempi). I'd try for a little more dynamic contrast, but you do a lot of good things with it already.

Thanks for sharing.

A minstrel was a medieval entertainer, usually one of a group made up in blackface and presenting a comic variety show.

So the images you got weren't far off.

And no I haven't played it for a while, but I agree with all of that, I was too heavy on the chord passages. But even I can't turn back time, heh.