Humoresque 5.2 Humoresque in Ragtime : Double Desecration
Channel: ThePeaceableKingdom
Date: 2014-02-27

Yes, I realize that I used a picture of a 4 minute Blue Amberol cylinder under  some text talking about early 2 minute cylinders. I chose that image as a generic cylinder simply because it was prettier and more colorful than a brown wax, black "Gold Moulded," or black Amberol; and because the image was in the commons. (Four minute cylinders do get a mention before it's all over...)

A "2 minute" cylinder could actually hold almost 2 and a quarter minutes when pushed to the limit and a "4 minute" cylinder twice that.  A typical gramophone disc was about 3 minutes long, and that was one of its advantages over the 2 minute cylinder. This spurred Edison's introduction of the 4 minute cylinder, but it required replacing the lead screw in earlier machines, a $7.50 upgrade.  To soften the blow, Edison included a package of "free" cylinders with the new lead screw. 

Subsequently, machines were made that could play both types of cylinders.

Gershwin spanned "Rhapsody in Blue" across two 4 minute records - and played it quite fast, too!

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For anyone who wants an *.MP3 of my arrangement of Desecration, here it is:

Double Desecration:

https://app.box.com/s/s06raeb1g8v3p5mnill6

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For those who want to hear the tune played properly, here are some links:

A straight transcription of the sheet music almost exactly as written:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV0n_f6lNNY

A piano roll of Desecration being played by Felix Arndt himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnKUUH6f1_4

And an early abbreviated recording of Desecration on a 3 minute Victor disc:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDfz-lrDH7c

A sensitively played modern arrangement of Desecration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOr_Qbh3HH0

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Scott Joplin is probably the best known ragtime composer, and quite possibly the best. His "Maple Leaf Rag" has remained well known over the years; and his music experienced a bit of a revival after it was used in the 1973 Paul Newman - Robert Redford movie "The Sting."

Here is a version of the "Maple Leaf Rag" played so crazy-fast you'll need a nap after just listening to it, and wonder how Vera's heart survived the exertion!

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/m2/f7/16764.mp3

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Zez Confrey's "Humorestless" in a piano transcription:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTX2qx2lTTk&feature=kp

This orchestral version of "Humorestless" from the library of congress includes an unnamed vocalist sounding quite a bit in the style of Johnny Marvin:

http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/10181/

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and finally, "Kitten on the Keys"

from an Edison "Diamond Disc" (with a little too much noise reduction) played by Zez Confrey himself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBxRRUj1bcA

and a modern performance played quite well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZELvklw0sGk

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Next time I'll be talking again, with another surprising and interesting story...