Ampico Lexington - Texas Fox-Trot - Muriel Pollack

This is a recut that had no tempo stamped on it. I could only guess
what it could be. After seeing it on YouTube rag fest vids, my old
posting was way too fast. I'm posting it again at the correct tempo.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Foxtrot
• piano
• 1916
• Ampico

[protte225]

I prefer your first tempo to this one, at least as a foxtrot. This one sounds more like the ragtime tempo which Joplin often specified as either "not fast", "not too fast", or "slow"? Your first posting of this sounds more like most foxtrots, doesn't it?

[pianmn199]

@protte225 Yes, I chose the faster tempo because it sounded more like a foxtrot,

but hearing it on the rag fest vids, they must know more about how fast it should

be played than I do. Check them out.

[autopiano]

I own an original of the 88 note Rythmodik issue of the same performance, and the tempo is marked 65 (in case the recut is a different step rate, the performance should last about 2m 56s). It sounds OK at this speed but I too prefer it at about the speed you've set in this video.

[pianmn199]

@autopiano Check out "Texas Foxtrot" on Youtube. I set the tempo this time

the same as they all play it.

[KawhackitaRag]

One thing to keep in mind is that the Ampico expression, relying upon crescendo schemes with fixed rates, allows for less flexibility in setting the tempo IF you want the expression to respond properly to the perforations, unlike the Duo-Art which can play tunes at nearly any tempo with the right expression due to their binary adding system. However, I love both Ampico and Duo-Art and think that the Ampico expression differences are probably negligible or they wouldn't have a tempo lever at all!

[KawhackitaRag]

This sounds SO GOOD! Mr. Taber, please keep BOTH tempos up as I think they are both great in their own way!

[KawhackitaRag]

@protte225 dude man I know, but it's a romantic full-chorded piece (In my opinion). I am not aware of ANY recordings of it by the composer David Guion, so I have no idea what tempo or feel he intended, but check out some versions by Elliott Adams (on his first recording, a cassette tape c. 1982? I think), Frederick Hodges (Stomp Off CD "Turn On the Heat") and Dan Grinstead (Moldy Fig CD "Secrets of Ragtime") as well as the numerous Youtube versions, by Will Perkins, Stephanie Trick etc.