Echoes from the Snowball Club

Echoes from the Snowball Club coverThis Detroit classic from 1898 is one of the earliest and best examples of a Ragtime waltz. Though the influence of Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag on Ragtime-as-art was profound and lasting, other pre-1900 rags were similarly written with craft and refinement. Pieces such as Echoes from the Snowball Club and Charles L. Johnson’s Doc Brown’s Cakewalk (1899) also helped lay the groundwork for Classic Ragtime.

Broadly speaking, the form of Echoes from the Snowball Club is ternary, with the main theme(s) in F major bookending a central C major theme. More specifically, the piece’s structure is Intro-ABAC-DED-ABA-Coda, with the introduction and coda being of substantial length and interest. The character of the piece is Schubertian—with graceful nobility. Sheet music for Echoes from the Snowball Club can be downloaded at imslp.org.

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Brandon Byrne Ragtime Piano Composition

Brandon Byrne is a ragtime composer, performer, and scholar. Max Morath said of Byrne, “Brandon’s unique compositions display unparalleled gifts and hidden virtuosity. His music reflects the past and challenges the future. His playing will touch your soul.” For a full list of his compositions, please visit his website.

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