American

Composers

George Gershwin on the other hand grew up during the time that Ragtime was flourishing and one of his first published works Rialto Ripples was a novelty rag. But he had also been exposed to a classical music education and his work spanned ragtime, jazz, popular and classical music. Rhapsody in Blue was his first classical composition and here we have arranged it on steel drums, gamelan and marimba - it was possibly his most popular composition. I Got Rhythm on the other hand is a song from a musical where we have given the voice part to an ocarina, strings to steel drums and marimba and brass to vibraphone to produce a very cool sound.

This Medley starts with Swanee and continues with a succession of pieces from the musicals. The piano transcription is arranged here on our favourite combination of steel drums, gamelan and marimba. The Piano Concerto in F returns to a classical format and we have showcased the marimba in place of the piano. The orchestra is assembled from steel drums, ocarina and vibraphone and the combination seems to emphasise the pent up energy and excitement displayed by this piece.

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American Composers:

On this site we have published recordings of a large number of composers from the USA who produce Ragtime music. This was all originally published as piano sheet music with a playing duration of around three minutes. The work presented on this page has close relationships with Ragtime but is in a different class. Le Bannanier by Louis Gottschalk predates the earliest Ragtime compositions and exposes some of the same roots. It is based on his recollections of creole folk music played in Louisiana during his childhood. I have now added a page of John Philip Sousa Marches and dances which also respond well to a percussion treatment. George Gershwin on the other hand grew up during the time that Ragtime was flourishing and one of his first published works Rialto Ripples was a novelty rag. But he had also been exposed to a classical music education and his work spanned ragtime, jazz, popular and classical music. Rhapsody in Blue was his first classical composition and here we have arranged it on steel drums, gamelan and marimba - it was possibly his most popular composition. I Got Rhythm on the other hand is a song from a musical where we have given the voice part to an ocarina, strings to steel drums and marimba and brass to vibraphone to produce a very cool sound. This Medley starts with Swanee and continues with a succession of pieces from the musicals. The piano transcription is arranged here on our favourite combination of steel drums, gamelan and marimba. The Piano Concerto in F returns to a classical format and we have showcased the marimba in place of the piano. The orchestra is assembled from steel drums, ocarina and vibraphone and the combination seems to emphasise the pent up energy and excitement displayed by this piece.