The Cyclone Rag Two Step

This track is a sneak preview of my Cincinnati ragtime album, being recorded at Ambient Studios here in town. This is a very rare ragtime number self-published by Edward G. Rieman in 1908 ("The Raglan Music Co.", his own vanity label). Rieman was born January 8th, 1886 to Henry and Justina Rieman, both German-born. The dedication states, "To the Troubadour Dancing Club of Norwood, Ohio." Given my Norwood roots, this one captured my attention; who knew there was a Troubadour Dancing Club? From the research I've gathered, he received a Masters Degree in Physics at the University of Cincinnati and eventually settled in St. Louis and became a math and science teacher at a high school. Unfortunately, he died February 6th, 1945 of an apparent suicide.

This may be one of the oddest pieces on my CD. As is the case with many Cincinnati-published rags, this one has a consistent "oom-pa-pa-oom-oom-pa-pa" in the bass rather than the typical "oom-pa-oom-pa" of most ragtime. There are no repeats for its four sections. The piece starts in C-major, but you're never quite sure of the tonal center until the final measure of the section. It then shifts to the key of D-major in the second section, highlighted by rapid ascending arpeggiated octave chords in the treble. The third section is asymmetrical in form; instead of the normal 16 measures of "typical" ragtime (and the other sections in this piece), there are 20 measures. The first part is riotously syncopated, and the last eight measures use simple arpeggiated chords in the melody, somewhat recalling the similar device from the second section. The last section is the biggest surprise of all; octave chords fall on every single offbeat, giving the impression of almost losing your balance. This whole cacophony ends somewhat abruptly in the original key of C-major. The title is an accurate description!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• cincinnati
• ohio
• ragtime
• two
• step
• cyclone
• rag
• edward
• rieman
• troubadour
• dancing
• club
• norwood
• 1908
• rare
• self-published
• jeremy
• stevenson
• album
• studio
• piano

[CincyRagtime]

Thanks!  This is a fascinating piece, definitely.

[VaudevilleJoe1925]

Just too grand! Loved it!

[Keeper1st]

Very interesting rag indeed. Nice!