Animal Cracker Rag
for xylophone solo and optional piano accompaniment
Animal Cracker Rag is a perfect solo for a young, outgoing, and potentially crazy performer looking for an opportunity to schowcase their talent and sense of humor. This piece harks back to music from the 1910’s and 20’s, where polka and ragtime were the dominant musical styles. As composer Brian Slawson puts it in his own words, “written with a tip of the hat to Russian composers Dmitri Kabalevsky and Aram Khachaturian, Animal Cracker Rag is the kind of campy, two-beat fare often heard at circuses.” This piece also includes an optional piano accompaniment geared toward percussionists who are looking to gain some experience on the instrument.
This piece ships as a fully bound score or as an instant PDF download for printing or tablet viewing. It also includes a separate, printed piano part within the physical folio, or as a PDF download included with the PDF version of this product.
- Xylophone
- Piano (optional)
Reviews
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T. Adam Blackstock –
This xylophone rag is short, sweet, and guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of young performers as well as parents in the audience. The humorous xylophone writing is reminiscent of Kabalevsky and utilizes the majority of the xylophone’s range, while not requiring the performer to move rapidly. Full of glissandi and chromatic runs, the young percussionist will have his or her hands full, but nothing is too difficult for this level. I should add that, as the student becomes more confident, the tempo could easily be increased; this would add a little challenge that can be applied as needed.
I really enjoy the fact that the piano accompaniment is geared towards the non-pianist. It is very idiomatic and not overwhelming at all. Someone with minimal skills can play the part, which should open the odor for the private instructor to “take the keys.”
In a world of more notes and fast tempi, this is quite refreshing. Younger, beginning students are often overlook. This solo will meet their needs.