Original Rags (Joplin/Daniels)
arranged for percussion ensemble
With his arrangement of Original Rags, Michael Huestis pays homage to the great ragtime giant, Scott Joplin. This historic rag has been hailed as “a charming and auspicious beginning to the life work of the master ragtime composer” by historian Rudi Blesh.
Huestis’ arrangement is full of energy and spirit, featuring a xylophone soloist, marimba ensemble accompaniment, and an optional drumset with the added colors of cowbell and woodblock. This ragtime classic is sure to delight any audience and is perfect as a recital encore or percussion ensemble piece!
Original Rags ships as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
- xylophone
- 3 marimbas—(1) 4-octave, (1) low A, (1) 5-octave
- optional: drumset (including splash cymbal, woodblock, and cowbell)
Reviews
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Jamie Wind Whitmarsh –
According to the program notes, “Original Rags” was Scott Joplin’s first printed ragtime work. Michael Huestis has scored the material for xylophone soloist with marimba ensemble. Similar to the popular rags by George Hamilton Green, the four marimba parts include a countermelody in Marimba 1, harmonic content in Marimbas 2 and 3, and the bassline in Marimba 4. Marimbas 1 and 4 may share an instrument. The drum set part, while optional, is tastefully scored and effectively explores the drum set as a collection of sounds.
This arrangement works well, as all material is scored clearly, and each part is involved enough to be interesting. Directors looking for a ragtime work for their upper-level high school or undergraduate percussion ensemble would find this arrangement useful.