Charleston Rag (Piano Roll)

Eubie Blake plays his famous tune "Charleston Rag", which he claims to have composed in 1899 (see the comments for more insight on this matter). The piano roll was made in 1921.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Eubie
• Blake
• Charleston
• Rag
• Piano
• Roll

[KawhackitaRag]

Thanks for posting this! Actually, this piano roll dates from 1917. It is an Ampico roll with additional coding for expression and dynamics (loud - soft) which we would be hearing if it was played on an Ampico piano. However, here, it sounds like it is being played on a normal foot-pump player piano, and the person pumping is not adding any expression of their own, either! Oh well, very interesting to hear this very rare roll! This is the first appearance on either rolls or records of this rag!

[wuloki]

Thanks again for your helpful comments. This is indeed an Ampico Roll, No. 54174-E.

[KawhackitaRag]

I should mention that, since now the ragtime historians have found out that Eubie was born in 1887, not 1883 as previously thought, it seems highly unlikely he wrote this rag in 1899. It is possible he had thought up some of the "tricks" in it, but probably not even one entire theme. I think Eubie's first manuscripts for this rag date to 1917, same year as the roll. And, this date fits stylistically. So, "Charleston Rag" was, in all probability, originally written in 1917.