Graceful Ghost Rag
This work has been identified for inclusion in the Small Band Repertoire Initiative. You may find discussion of the work's challenges and merits under the Discussion tab above. You may also contribute your own thoughts and recommendations by joining the WRP.
|
General Info
Year: 1970 / 2011
Duration: c. 3:50
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Piano
Publisher: Edward B. Marks Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $85.00; (digital) - $85.00 | Score Only (print) - $7.50; (digital) - $7.50
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion I-II, including:
- Bass Drum
- Glockenspiel
- Hi-hat
- Snare Drum (2)
- Suspended Cymbal
- Woodblock
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Bolcom’s Graceful Ghost Rag was first composed for piano as a reminiscence of his father. It was designed to expand on possible extensions of composer Louis Chauvin’s French Creole qualities, as displayed in that composer’s sole existing publication, Heliotrope Bouquet. The rag begins with no introduction, suggesting both D-flat major and B-flat minor tonalities until the very end of the first section, when it settles into the minor. A number of syncopations forecast the harmonic changes that follow, providing a fascinating trip through varying temporary keys until working its way back to B-flat minor. The rag provides a truly graceful flow evocative of the title, subtly returning to the opening theme.
The band version is scored by the composer to replicate a pit band from the ragtime era, and is one of several arrangements of this popular work.
- Program Note by Elliott Tackitt for the University of Michigan concert program, 22 February 2018
Adapted from his well-known piano composition, here is William Bolcom's version for symphonic band. Written in a moderate ragtime tempo, this work utilizes a transparent scoring style along with soloistic passages that contrast nicely with brief soli features for various sections of the ensemble. The lyric quality lends itself quite well to the rhythmic and syncopated style making it both uniquely elegant and rewarding.
- Program Note from publisher
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: North Texas Wind Symphony (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor) – 2014
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of British Columbia (Vancouver) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Jaelem Bhate, conductor) - 16 February 2023
- New England Conservatory (Boston) Senior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble (Allison Lacasse, conductor) – 16 December 2019
- California State University, Los Angeles Wind Ensemble (Emily Moss, conductor) – 23 September 2019
- University of Kansas (Lawrence) Symphonic Band (Matthew Smith, conductor) – 25 March 2019
- Temple University (Philadelphia, Penn.) Wind Symphony (Patricia Cornett, conductor) – 27 January 2019
- California State University, Bakersfield, Concert Band (Leo Sakomoto, conductor) – 17 November 2018
- The Ohio State University (Columbus) Wind Symphony (Russell C. Mikkelson, conductor) – 26 September 2018
- University of Missouri, Kansas City, Wind Ensemble (Joseph Parisi, conductor) – 21 September 2018
- W.D. Packard (Warren, Ohio) Concert Band (Jesse Leyva, conductor) – 22 July 2018
- University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) Symphonic Band (Jamal Duncan. conductor) – 5 March 2018
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) Wind Symphony (Warren Olfert, conductor) – 1 March 2018
- Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo) Concert Band – 23 February 2018 (CBDNA 2018 North Central Conference, Kalamazoo, Mich.)
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Concert Band (Courtney Snyder, conductor) – 22 February 2018 (CBDNA 2018 North Central Conference, Kalamazoo, Mich.)
- Sierra College (Rocklin, Calif.) Wind Symphony (Greg McLaughlin) – 28 February 2018
- DeWitt (Mich.) Community Concert Band (Craig Hayward, conductor) – 27 October 2016
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Broadside: Ceremonial for Winds
- Circus Overture (tr. Bolcom and Dooley) (2015)
- Concert Suite for Solo E-flat Alto Saxophone and Band (1998)
- Concerto for Clarinet and Band (1990/2015)
- Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Band (2015)
- Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet (2000)
- Fanfare for a New President
- First Symphony for Band (2008)
- Fifth Symphony (1999)
- Five Cabaret Songs (arr. Frenkel) (2009/2014)
- Graceful Ghost Rag (1970/2011)
- Liberty Enlightening the World (1985)
- Machine (tr. Lavender) (1990/1999)
- Orphée-Sérénade (1984)
- Serenade for English Horn and Chamber Winds (2023)
- Song (for Band) (2001)
- Trombone Concerto (2017)
Resources
- List of Compositions by William Bolcom, Wikipedia Accessed 21 March 2017
- Moorhouse, Linda R. "Graceful Ghost Rag." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 9, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 536-548. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2013.
- Pease, Andy. "Graceful Ghost Rag by William Bolcom." Wind Band Literature, 19 December 2021. Web. Accessed 19 December 2021