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If you like this type of music, why not visit some of my favorite sites for more? Here are a few of what I think are the best ragtime, stride and novelty MIDI sources on the web, all of which have downloadable standard MIDI files. Tune in for some good music.
John Roache's Ragtime MIDI Page
My very good friend John, who unfortunately suddenly and unexpectedly died on March 3, 1999, was a Michelangelic MIDI sculptor. I always like to tell the story of how we met. Several years ago, I got interested in MIDI and began searching AOL for sequences I could download (I was not using the internet at the time). After having found dozens of mediocre-to-poor efforts in the AOL music forum, I downloaded a tune called "Bluin' The Black Keys," which was sequenced by John (and appears on his web site). I was amazed at how alive and real his results were and continued stalking him. When I had retrieved about a half-dozen of his sequences, I finally wrote him an e-mail to tell him how much I appreciated his work (actually, it was a "How-in-the-world-do-you-do-that?" e-mail). He immediately responded ("Stalking me, eh?") and answered my question with brutal frankness: "Hard work. Learning how to do MIDI right is hard work." So I began working hard under John's gentle, firm and patient tutelage, and I have been forever grateful. John liked to say that I am "Grasshopper" to his "Master Po." He was right. We since became close buddies, sharing in much more than making MIDI music. John's site contains a glorious library of superlatively sculpted ragtime, stride and novelty piano. In addition to featuring the "usual suspects," i.e., Joplin, Confrey, Waller & Co., he had also posted an array of MIDIs comprising the work of some very talented contemporary composers. And don't miss his tutorials. Certainly the most sophisticated and comprehensive site of its kind.
Warren Trachtman's MIDI Page
Warren and I were introduced to each other by John Roache at a ragtime festival. Warren is one of those inquisitive jack-of-all-trades types who aggressively attacks and vanquishes the bit-and-byte relationships between MIDI music and computers. In addition to featuring well-known ragtime composers (as well as the somewhat transitional music of Eubie Blake) on his site, Warren -- an east-coaster -- pays glorious tribute to Ferdinand Joseph LaMenthe, otherwise known as Jelly Roll Morton. Log on to Warren's site for some really good music as well as many links to other related sites.
Mary Haley's Ragtime and Related Music Home Page
This is a very comprehensive site that will address most of your ragtime needs. The site is wonderfully organized and it has tons of useful information.
Home Page of "The Mississippi Rag"
"The Mississippi Rag" will keep you up to date on the latest news and views in the ragtime community. In addition to listing upcoming festivals, events and other items of interest, the "Rag" publishes feature articles that will expand your knowledge and understanding of the genre we all love so much. And, to make things easy, you can subscribe online.
Oleg Mezjuev's Swedish Ragtime Home Page
This wonderfully entertaining and interesting site includes such esoterica and miscellanea as Swedish rags, international rags, ragtime guitar, the music of Donald Ashwander and . . . chess. Of course, it also contains classic ragtime by classic ragtime composers.
Mike Meddings' Web Site
An extremely fascinating site. One of Mike's major interests is mechanical players. He has built and fully restored player mechanisms as well as complete pianos. There is a lot of wonderful information as well as photos on his site. In addition, Mike has posted his own MIDI work in addition to that of other sequencers. Visit the site; it will be a treat.
The World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest
It's all here. Although the site is dedicated to promoting the preservation of old-time (including ragtime) piano music through friendly competition, there is also a virtual encyclopedia of information running through its pages. Included is one of the best list of links that will connect you to the best old-time/ragtime - indeed, good-time - sites on the internet. Definitely worth a visit or two.
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