Very Vout (with Bounceroo)

I've archived about fifteen more pieces which brings me to 114.

One of the pieces I archived is the song, "Cement Mixer (Put-ti, Put-ti)", and it has the most bizarre tempo marking.

Very Vout (with Bounceroo)

I watched a video about him, and I can easily see where the Bounceroo comes from. Slim Gaillard is a whimisical sort of piano player, and it makes sense that he would have fun with every aspect of the music, even in the more mundane elements of transcription. And frankly, the beat that piece has is not just bouncy, it's bounceroo-y, though I'm hard pressed to describe what that means totally. I know what it feels like, though!

But what on earth does Vout mean?

Edit: Further research has revealed to me that vout is Slim's form of jive. I can't fully wrap my head around it, so I'll let this website explain it for me.

Still... I guess my question still remains valid. What is a vout tempo?

The Art of Hap Hadley

Amazing! I have sheet music with art done by "Hap" Hadley!

Archive # 101

I amazed because I was under the impression that he primarily did artwork for old silent movies. Unfortunately, that's about all I know about him. I should say, however, that doing a google image search of him will give you a pretty good idea of what he's done.

At first, I was surprised by the lack of color. But, after some thought, I realized that all sheet music is pretty lacking in the color department. Color, attracted the consumer, for sure, but it was also pretty expensive, therefore, you wanted your lithography to have as few layers as possible but still entice the potential buyer.

In any case, I'm incredibly pleased with the find, and I'm in love with the artistic styling of the cover.

On an only semi-related note, the publisher, Harms Incorporated, comes up in my archive only once, with a black and white Spanish piece called "Jalousie". I assume that it wasn't a big name publisher, so I wonder how it got Mr. Hadley. Also, as most publishers have gone, Harms is now apart of Alfred. It's amazing how many companies that place has absorbed.

98 Archived. Random Notes.

As you may have inferred from the title, I have now archived 98 pieces.

After seeing a post on another blog about early American patriotic music, I've decided to dedicate a post to the ones in my stack. I'm a bit late doing it for any special date, since Veteran's Day has passed, but I guess I could say my posts will be in preparation for the anniversary for Pearl Harbor and the Battle of the Bulge next month. Yes... that TOTALLY makes sense...

Anyway, this is my favorite cover from my recent archival efforts:

Archive # 87

I've been avoiding foxtrots up until this point simply because I've never played one before, and I'm a sucker for waltzes. I think it's time to man up*...

*After I finish learning to play the waltz, "On the Shores of Italy" of course.

87 Pieces, and Creepy Men

I've now archived 87 pieces! Unfortunately, that means I have to buy some more plastic sleeves, which are expensive because of the sheet music's unusual size.

So far, I've learned to play a lot of them. It seems likely that I'll record those very soon.

Also, on a more random note, I think this piece wins the award for creepiest man so far:

Archive #78

The bird/girls get extra points for creepy.

Signs of Spring.. in the Winter?

I absolutely love this cover! LOVE IT! Even if there is a coloring error underneath his/her chin. Still, I think I may frame this piece.

Archive # 74

I don't really know where this piece comes from. Two things lead me to believe it's not my great-grandmother's: 1.) Her name is not written on it and 2.) It's way too easy to play! Thus, I must surmise that she never played it. That being said, I do know that someone did. Firstly, it's tattered from use. Secondly, when you look inside there are F-sharps pencilled in all over the place which tells me that whoever played it was a beginner who was still struggling with key signatures that weren't C Major. In this case, G Major was throwing them for a loop!

Of course, I talk as if that still doesn't happen to me. I'll admit that I tend to play whatever key I want a song to be in... that is, before begrudgingly relenting and submitting to what is written after a long atonal series of notes that in no way resemble a melody.

In any case, I think it's safe to say that my great-grandmother picked this up with all the other freebies at the dime store she worked at.

On a side note, the Theodore Presser Company, which had owned the copyrights to this song, still exists! Amazing that they have survived! Perhaps its because their base was in Philadelphia and not New York, where there was more competition. Of course, to confirm this thought, I checked my database and find that there are quite a few companies based in Philadelphia. Eclipse, and Hatcher at the very least, though I haven't checked to see how those companies have done towards the end of the century.

I would love to write more boring things about this song, but I've got to go unload hay. Fun, seeing as I'm incredibly allergic to it! Hay fever. Talk about a sign of spring, eh?

75 Pieces Archived

I have officially scanned in seventy-five pieces of music!

How many have I learned to play? About... four...

Still, progress is progress.

Here are some covers that I particularly like:

Archive# 53

Archive # 49

Archive # 33