The Ghost Rags

Almost any young pianist loves to play rags. Of course the music of Scott Joplin is the choice of most teachers, but there are many other great rags to explore. William Bolcom wrote his Ghost Rags in 1970. He combines this old-time style with his own personal style and perhaps a little bit of witty humor. Graceful Ghost the first of the rags was written in memory of his father and is his most famous work. He ventures into some unexpected places harmonically and perhaps haunts a bit more in his second rag titled Poltergeist (Rag Fantasy). The third rag is titled Dream Shadows and Bolcom described it as a "white telephone rag." This one is slower and sweeter and has some surprising harmonies. If your ragtime repertoire is limited to Joplin, Bolcom is a great place to venture and explore something new.