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Golden Age of Ragtime, The (Download)
Ralph Hicks and Eric Rath, co-authors of the popular Five Minute Drill, Nine Minute Drill, and Beyond Basic Percussion are partners in crime yet again bringing this charming collection of xylophone solos to the world of percussion. The Golden Age of Ragtime features some of the most quintessential pieces of American music like Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin and Funny Folks by W.C. Powell. These authentic ragtime xylophone solos can be played with piano accompaniment, four-part marimba ensemble, or both!
Going one step further, Hicks and Rath have provided supplemental content in an effort to give an educational experience to performers. They've provided a brief history of ragtime, a full page of tips for more unique performances, suggested mallets for performance, and each solo is accompanied with a list of historical facts pertaining to the year the solo was written. This book is a must for any percussion educator!
Included in this collection:
1. Funny Folks by W.C. Powell (Med-easy - 3’15”)
2. The Nonpareil by Scott Joplin (Medium - 3’10”)
3. Colonial Glide by Paul Pratt (Medium - 2’50”)
4. Eugenia by Scott Joplin (Med-Advanced - 3’00”)
5. Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin (Med-Advanced - 3’00”)
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
Soloist:
Accompaniment:
* One of the low A marimbas can be swapped with a low F marimba (4.5 octave) allowing extended range parts to be performed if a larger instrument is available.
Everybody loves ragtime! There is something special about this uniquely American musical genre that transports our imagination back to the late 1800s and early 1900s—to a time when life was simple yet exciting. This collection includes “Funny Folks” by W. C. Powell, “Colonial Glide” by Paul Pratt, and “The Nonpareil,” “Eugenia,” and “Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin. Even with these pieces being on the slower end of the metronome spectrum (between 85 and 100 bpm) each solo lasts around three minutes if all repeats are taken, or shorter if each section is only played through one time—perfect for state solo and ensemble events.
Written in an accessible style, these pieces can be performed as a xylophone solo with piano accompaniment or with a quartet on two marimbas. The solo part is not overly complicated, although Hicks and Rath do offer other suggestions on how to “make things more flashy,” like swinging rhythms or adding improvised trills and embellishments. Likewise, the percussion ensemble accompaniment parts are straight forward in their harmonic presentation, can be played with two mallets, and have stickings and dynamics clearly laid out for the performers. The authors have also considered younger players, as evidenced by the inclusion of bass clef parts offered alternatively as treble clef parts.
Educators will appreciate the pedagogical inclusions in this collection, such as printable progress charts for each player, historical information regarding ragtime at the turn of the century, and short facts relating to the composition year of each piece. (Did you know that in 1907 you could buy a pound of coffee for 15 cents?) What a great genre to introduce to your students, and what an effective collection to use in your classrooms. This latest offering from the dynamic duo of Hicks and Rath is a keeper!
—Joshua D. Smith
Percussive Notes
Vol. 56, No. 5, November 2018
Ralph Hicks and Eric Rath, co-authors of the popular Five Minute Drill, Nine Minute Drill, and Beyond Basic Percussion are partners in crime yet again bringing this charming collection of xylophone solos to the world of percussion. The Golden Age of Ragtime features some of the most quintessential pieces of American music like Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin and Funny Folks by W.C. Powell. These authentic ragtime xylophone solos can be played with piano accompaniment, four-part marimba ensemble, or both!
Going one step further, Hicks and Rath have provided supplemental content in an effort to give an educational experience to performers. They've provided a brief history of ragtime, a full page of tips for more unique performances, suggested mallets for performance, and each solo is accompanied with a list of historical facts pertaining to the year the solo was written. This book is a must for any percussion educator!
Included in this collection:
1. Funny Folks by W.C. Powell (Med-easy - 3’15”)
2. The Nonpareil by Scott Joplin (Medium - 3’10”)
3. Colonial Glide by Paul Pratt (Medium - 2’50”)
4. Eugenia by Scott Joplin (Med-Advanced - 3’00”)
5. Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin (Med-Advanced - 3’00”)
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
Soloist:
Accompaniment:
* One of the low A marimbas can be swapped with a low F marimba (4.5 octave) allowing extended range parts to be performed if a larger instrument is available.
Everybody loves ragtime! There is something special about this uniquely American musical genre that transports our imagination back to the late 1800s and early 1900s—to a time when life was simple yet exciting. This collection includes “Funny Folks” by W. C. Powell, “Colonial Glide” by Paul Pratt, and “The Nonpareil,” “Eugenia,” and “Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin. Even with these pieces being on the slower end of the metronome spectrum (between 85 and 100 bpm) each solo lasts around three minutes if all repeats are taken, or shorter if each section is only played through one time—perfect for state solo and ensemble events.
Written in an accessible style, these pieces can be performed as a xylophone solo with piano accompaniment or with a quartet on two marimbas. The solo part is not overly complicated, although Hicks and Rath do offer other suggestions on how to “make things more flashy,” like swinging rhythms or adding improvised trills and embellishments. Likewise, the percussion ensemble accompaniment parts are straight forward in their harmonic presentation, can be played with two mallets, and have stickings and dynamics clearly laid out for the performers. The authors have also considered younger players, as evidenced by the inclusion of bass clef parts offered alternatively as treble clef parts.
Educators will appreciate the pedagogical inclusions in this collection, such as printable progress charts for each player, historical information regarding ragtime at the turn of the century, and short facts relating to the composition year of each piece. (Did you know that in 1907 you could buy a pound of coffee for 15 cents?) What a great genre to introduce to your students, and what an effective collection to use in your classrooms. This latest offering from the dynamic duo of Hicks and Rath is a keeper!
—Joshua D. Smith
Percussive Notes
Vol. 56, No. 5, November 2018
