Victorious Cakewalk

[zufrieden23]

great!

[cjhwth81]

Very good job!! Cincinatti shuffle..?

[rupepill]

What infectiously joyful music and how wonderfully you play it. Fancy being able, as we viewers are, to hear something so fresh and new from a talented composer.

Youtube has become an astonishingly effective promoter and facilitator of talent, and yours is certainly one of the most enjoyable of all. Thanks for this very exhilarating posting.

[atwaterkent911]

dude amazing

[tdub1941]

Delicious! Love this tune!

RagJazzMonkey Tom

Duh!

[pianiplunker]

Great tune. I'd imagine it's harder than one would expect to compose/improvise a good cakewalk since the harmonies and syncopation is somewhat limited in the genre. I hear the influences of Eli Green and Mississippi rag.

[kybudman]

Thanks, Max. Oh, how I do enjoy being with you while you play!

[ragtimejohn]

Tomato soup!!!!

[furlongdude]

Another beautiful composition.

I suggest "Atlantic Carriage Rumble." I visualize a carriage with spinning wheels moving over cobblestone streets.

[glycopianoman]

Cakewalk 100 years later. I doubt any more cakewalks have been composed 100 years after the cakewalk craze happened. Perhaps a title that reflected that...perhaps Plus 100 cakewalk

[TheKnabe]

It required three hearings but now I am a big fan of this Cakewalk. It is glorius. So good, in fact, why don't you name it after Queen Victoria who ruled during the ragtime era or, for that matter, Queen Elizabeth (II) as it was composed during her reign?

[adametokillfor]

You are amazing. I love ragtime, but having small hands, it's extremely difficult for me to play. Glad to see that the style hasn't died out!

[Keeper1st]

Hey Max, I have video of Tom sight-reading this that I can send to you...

[ragtimemax]

I would be very interested to see it!

[clemspaw]

Great! For the title, why not "Victoria Row Cakewalk" or "Charlottetown Cakewalk"?

It's probably stupid, but for a foreigner like me, it's a good title!

Have you ever sale yours compositions on sheet music? (Sorry for my english, it is probably médiocre)

[pianoman1984]

I like Tom Brier's playing too, but have to agree with Bachscholar that Max' playing is better.

[BachScholar]

Wow, I am in awe of your compositional skills! Your playing is fantastic also. You are one of the best ragtime players I have heard on YouTube because your articulation. pedaling, and tempos are right on. You are much better than that terribly overrated and over-worshipped ragtime player named Tom Brier.

[ragtimemax]

Thank you very much for your kind remarks, but I will have to disagree regarding Tom Brier. I have met him, heard him live, and purchased his CDs and folios; and I must attest that his playing, composing, and musicality is nothing short of astonishing. I would highly recommend you purchase these to get a better understanding of this musical phenom.

[BachScholar]

From what I have heard of him on YouTube he seems incapable of playing anything slow. He is simply a speed demon. Faster is not better. Also, he can't achieve a cantabile sound. He is not a phenom at all.

[ragtimemax]

Tom is just as capable of playing/composing/improvising with the cantabile approach you describe, as he is capable of "powerhouse" playing. The reason most of what is on YouTube is in the powerhouse style, is that the atmosphere at ragtime festivals is usually a high-octane one, of fun, good nature, and competition; one where "powerhouse" style is more appropriate. This is why I recommend seeking out his recordings; "Perryville" and "La Paleta" are stellar examples of Tom playing cantabile.

[KawhackitaRag]

I have known Tom as a musical friend, cohort, advisor, supplier/giver of sheet music, fellow musician etc. for many years (probably about 10 years now) and I ask you to please take that back!

Tom can, has, and will continue to achieve a slow, cantabile sound on such pieces that he thinks merit such a treatment. Listen to how he plays "An Autumn Memory", and "Rose Blossoms" on his terrific recording "Rising Star".

[KawhackitaRag]

Dear BachScholar, you obviously have never heard Tom in person. There is not a single complete set of his playing anywhere on Youtube, all there are is bits and pieces from many different sets and afterglow parties at the festivals, mostly highlighting the barn-burners because he is really good at those (and, let's face it, a lot of people AREN'T!). Anyway, in a typical Tom solo set at a ragtime festival, he will play fast tunes, slow tunes, medium tunes, rags, waltzes, tangos, novelties, etc.

[KawhackitaRag]

I invite you to come to the West Coast Ragtime Festival in Sacramento this coming November and hear Tom play in person. His sight-reading is nothing short of astonishing, especially of ragtime. If you don't believe me, why don't you compose a rag yourself, print out the sheet music and bring it to the festival for Tom to read? That way, you KNOW he's never seen it before.

[KawhackitaRag]

But... I should add that sight-reading isn't everything, a great sight-reader isn't necessarily a good musician. Tom is a great musician who also happens to be a great sight-reader.

What I find genuinely amazing about him is that not only does he play (and improvise!) in a very authentic ragtime style, but he is also able to make up entire rags on the spot. Probably the best example of this is "Skunk Hollow Rag" which was composed/played in 2001 and is available in his first folio.