"Rustic Dance" by C. R. Howell

I believe this "catchy" tune was written in 1898, just at the beginning of the ragtime era. (I have seen versions dated in the 30's, but have also seen sheet music of it from the 1890's.) It was Grandpa's favorite piano piece, and he often asked Grandma to play it for him. The tune rattled around in my head all these years, and I finally had to learn it for myself.

I saw one music sheet that listed the author as C. K. Howell, but usually he/she is listed as C. R. Howell.

I hope this was fun to hear in spite of all my mistakes. Thanks for watching!!! ;-)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rustic Dance
• rustic
• dance
• C.R.
• Howell
• piano
• solo
• Tom Clemans
• Yamaha
• P-70
• Canon
• Vixia
• HF-100

[5ivestring]

I found a listing for sheet music that has his name as C K Howell

[tomclemans]

@5ivestring

It looks like you're right. My hand-written copy had the initial wrong.

Thanks for watching, and for the correction. :-)

[Kamireru16]

im having a hard time practicing the 2nd part... you play awesome! :)

[tomclemans]

@Kamireru16

Thanks for your kind words, and for watching the video.

Best wishes as you complete learning this fun piece. I'll be delighted to watch your version some day.

[klrietmann]

The 1st part of this is more than a bit similar to the 1st part of the Nightingale Hornpipe, published in Ryan's Mammoth Collection, a Boston publication issued in the 1880s and still in print. After picking up the tune to play on the fiddle I was more than a bit surprised to hear Amaryllis playing it in the Music Man! Makes for a good anecdote, too. Composers swiping each other's work was nothing unusual back then, and many of these tunes have similar structures, too.

[tomclemans]

@klrietmann

Thanks for watching, and for your fascinating info. :-)

[MegaLyrebird]

I danced with my cat when I listened to this song. 

[5ivestring]

I wasn't just watching, I was listening! I like what I hear too.

[qweneviere]

I have a copy from 1897. If I can give you a definitive year that it was composed I'll let you know!!

[tomclemans]

@TheSumners

Hi Trevor and Lydia, Thanks for your note. This same melody is also played on an orchestrian player piano - REALLY cool! To find it, do a YouTube search for: Rustic dance player

Tom :-)