New Ragtime Site
By Terry Smythe
To: automatic-music@foxtail.com
While poking around the 'Net this morning, I noted a reference to a Web site new to me that contained "player piano rolls".
http://www.intac.com/~gbogatko
I visited George Bogatko's site, and found the following document, which led to 7 selections which I downloaded into my computer. That site is one that unilaterally gives a unique sequential number to a file as it is being sent, without regard to its real name. For example:
L273900.htm is really Raggin the Scale
So, as the files are coming in, you must be quick about noting which music belongs to which sequentially numbered incoming file. After getting them all down, I found they were compressed .ZIP files, so had to rename all to:
L273900.htm renamed to L273900.zip
PKUNZIP (a DOS utility) then was able to decompress all files with a single command:
PKUNZIP L*.zip
As each .MID file was extracted, it did so with its correct name. For example:
L273900.zip extracted to RAGSCALE.MID
All 7 selections played very well through my 16 bit Sound Blaster card in my DOS computer. Of the 7, I thoroughly enjoyed Nag, Nag, Nag and Walking the Baby Back Home.
Enjoy!
Terry Smythe *Sounds of Yesteryear*
55 Rowand Avenue Restoration and enjoyment of vintage
Winnipeg, MB R3J 2N6 automatic musical instruments
(204) 832-3982 email: smythe@mbnet.mb.ca
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Penumbra Music 14 Stanley Oval Westfield, New Jersey, 07090 USA _________________________________________________________________
Herein are pointers to MIDI files of music I have composed or arranged on my AWE32 board using CAKEWALK. It's mostly Jazz in an older style, e.g. stride and player piano"(sometimes refered to (incorrectly) as ragtime), and swing. The departure from the trend is a piece for handbell choir.
All the original compositions are copyrighted. The arrangements are from material that has entered the public domain. Where indicated, sheet music versions of the files are available. They were extracted from the MIDI file, and edited with a computer engraver (ENCORE). (I used to do engraving for a living -- ages ago -- it takes a lot of editing to make these things playable).
These MIDI files were created by saving them as .MID files from Cakewalk. I've re-downloaded them from this page, and they appeared to play correctly on my configuration.
This doesn't mean anything. If you have trouble playing these things, Please let me know.
Arrangements
Raggin the scale.
This is a piece by Ed. B. Claypool that my Uncle used to play years ago. The arrangement is supposed to sound like a Seeburg G nickelodeon.
Bluen' the Black Keys
This is by Arthur Schutt, who was the pianist of choice for Red Nichols. His style live tended to be more orchestral than this example. I've added some extra notes now and then to ease the monotony of the repeated sections, and towards the very end, it gets impossible for one person. This was typical of the piano roll era.
I've replaced the original MIDI with a superbly re-edited version by John Roache. Magician that he is, it is now in stereo and really sounds "live." Thanks John!
Original Compositions
Smoke and Mirrors
This was played over the summer by the Colorado Symphony -- Marin Alsop with String Fever. String Fever is a swing string band I've been associated with since the early 80's. The're probably the only string band of it's size that understands the style.
When I wrote this, I first sketched out everything on MIDI so I could hear how things would sound in "real time". It's very chromatic in parts, and I wanted to make sure things would work. The file here is that MIDI sketch. Generally, the patches selected were only for a rough approximation. The pitch choices were more important. For instance, the "winds" are the GM Recorder. and some sections of the drum part drop out. After it was done, a "score" was printed using CAKEWALK's printing capability, and the full version laid out on big score sheets.
You can get a very good feel for how the live version went down from this file. The live version was more exciting because of the size and volume of the orchestra. Midi's don't reproduce that effect yet.
Some people have had a hard time playing this one. Let me know if you have trouble, and the nature of the trouble.
20th Century Stomp
A piece for swing string band. I didn't like the way the AWE32 strings sounded on this, so the MIDI file has been re-voiced to a more "Big Band" sound.
The original (pre-computer) hand copied string parts are available at the above address for $50 a set.
Nag, Nag, Nag
A player piano roll"
I've had a facination for automatic musical instruments since childhood. Couldn't afford one then, but later in life, I was able to get an Ampico Player Grand. The style of player piano rolls is unique. The arrangers of the popular rolls knew what they had, and exploited it. They didn't confine themselves to what could be played by two hands (or even four). It's a mistake to think that just trills, shakes, rolls and a honky-tonk tuning is all it takes to sound like a player piano. In fact, the bulk of the popular rolls were cut from arrangements by schooled musicians that were calculated to make the piano more orchestral. (The story goes that Art Tatum grew up listening to them, and that his unique style was his interpretation of what he remembered.)
I've taken the cue from this precedent, and not concerned myself with the playability of either Bluen' the Black Keys or Nag, Nag, Nag.
I extracted a piano 4-hand arrangement of Nag from the MIDI file.
To obtain a copy, send a check for $7 to the above address.
Walkin' the Baby Home
Another "player piano roll".
I was trying to think up a new tune, when the phrase "Walkin' the Baby Home" struck me. If the tune had words to it, that would be the "hook" phrase. You'll hear it in the "chorus".
This one is inspired by the rolls credited to the "Original Piano Trio". There really was an "Original Piano Trio". When I still had an Edison disk player, I heard a record of them, so I know they did play live. The trio was composed of Herbert Clair, Charles Dilworth and Edgar Fairchild. From the history I've been able to gather, the rolls were arranged by Edgar Fairchild with the three players in mind, and then credited as being played by the "trio". "Georgia" has sections in which each contributes separately.
At any rate, these rolls would have "wall of sound" sections in which you would have 6-hand chords and counterpoint. It's just awesome when it happens, and I tried to capture that effect in "Walkin'".
I considered making a 4-hand edition of this roll, like the one for Nag, Nag, Nag. However, the lack of interest in Nag's 4-hand version (e.g. nobody has asked for it) leads me to believe that would be a waste of time. So for "Walkin'", there'll only be the MIDI file (unless someone wants to commission me to do it. It'd probably be better as 2-piano/4-hand).
Recollections
A piece for handbell choir. General MIDI does not include handbells, so I did this using the Rhodes setting. You'll get used to it. You can buy a performance set of 12 copies of the music (from the above address) for $40.
It comes unbound and hole punched so you can put it in your bell book.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
(Message sent Sat 21 Oct 1995, 16:49:09 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
|
|
Mechanical
Music Digest™ Archives
