Mad Scientist Rag (Ron O'Dell) played by Tom Brier

[19Summers94]

This piece always makes me smile!!! If i close my eyes i can see a Mad Scientist at work :)

[amazing763]

As much as I love BachScholar's annotated rendition of this rag, I think that Tom's is even better. It's like he sneaks up on each phrase and surprises the piano with it.

[amazing763]

Ahh, this is what Rube Bloom was anticipating when he composed Futuristic Rag so many years ago. Thank you, Ron, for remembering the way the future used to be, before it got all computerized. And thanks to Tom, the most improvisational sight reader in any mad piano laboratory on three planets.

[sutterchip]

Great piece, Ron; I especially liked the demented seventh chord with which Tom finishes the composition.

[grantmanager]

I fear I didn't like this very much. Tom, as usual was perfection. I just didn't like the odd key/harmonies/etc. Meaning no disrespect...just not my cup of tea.

[Keeper1st]

Fair enough; it is quite an unconventional rag. For more conventional ragtime of mine, you might enjoy "Puppy Dog Rag", "Bird-Bath Rag" or "Tattle-Tale Rag", each of which have video(s).

[LiiChinHo]

What kind of chord was that last chord?!?

[LiiChinHo]

Wow, that sounds wonderful!  Thanks!

[Keeper1st]

The key is E minor. Whatever that chord is that Tom throws in at the end, I really like it!

[aaron12345432]

oops my bad, its actually a minor triad with a major seventh added on. I guess my ear's not as good as I thought =p nevertheless its a cool chord.

[lbrown21494]

It's sad that hardly anyone apreciates art like this, all the poor people brainwashed by, cough, cough, "our culture".

[lbrown21494]

Y'all cease to amaze me

[glook]

That's kinda mean to say. Even if you didn't like this rag, it doesn't mean they won't do something amazing later; after all, not everything can stick.

[Keeper1st]

I rather think, given his later comment, that he was making a mistake similar to "I could care less" -- leaving out the all-important negative. I also rather think you know this and are being just a bit cheeky. Heheh.

[lbrown21494]

Hey, I'm sorry if I sounded sarcastic. I really do like this work and did not mean anything ill-willed or malicious by my last comment. I hope you have not seen me as someone who does not enjoy your works, for you truly are talented.

Thanks,

Lbrown21494.

[glook]

Lol. Yep you caught me.

I like being cheeky. :p

[lbrown21494]

I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding here. I did not mean to say what I said in a sarcastic matter. I actually do appriciate this work and think it is a great piece. In today's day and age, I guess things can be misunderstood due to the nature of such things as sarcasm. In any case, I appologise to anyone I have offended.

Thanks,

Lbrown21494.

[Keeper1st]

@lbrown21494 It can be misunderstood because you said the opposite of what you meant to say. You left out the word "never" in the expression "never cease to amaze" (in much the same way as people often leave out the "not" in "could not care less"). I knew, from your second comment, what you meant to say, so no worries.

[ThisIsKuroCat]

There could have been no better title to this one! Love to see Brier play these amazing raggggssss

[Keeper1st]

The title came first, as with most of my rags.

[mistystargazer]

This is one of my favorites of yours as well :D