My latest visit to the extensive collection of piano rags found on www.ragtimepiano.ca has yielded another little-known gem from the Original Ragtime Era: Percy Wenrich’s delightful Sweetmeats (1907). The piece’s A section never strays from I and V7 chords and has a simplistic charm.
The non-syncopated, song-like B section reminds me of the corresponding section in Dixie Blossoms (1906); both melodies are played in octaves. Octaves also feature prominently in the C section, where they are played with both hands. The D section gives Sweetmeats a strong finish. No section is recapitulated throughout the piece. As with many other rags by Percy Wenrich, Sweetmeats is in C major. Apparently “sweet meats” are baby chicks, eyed hungrily by young children in the sheet music cover.
![JazzAffair](https://syncopatedtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Angela.png" "JazzAffair")
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.
