This collection represents a cross-section of Confrey's works and encompasses the broad range of his styles. Besides his famous 1920s novelty works (including "Kitten on the Keys"), there are many wonderful, lesser-known gems of remarkable quality included here from later in his career. Appearing for the first time in print are transcriptions of one of his disc recordings ("Poor Buttermilk") and two of his player piano roll arrangements ("My Pet" and "Humorestless"). Many of Confrey's later works have long been out of print and are included here for the first time in decades.

Confrey is known primarily for his "novelty piano" compositions, which cultivated the style of Jelly Roll Morton and Scott Joplin. This arrangement of one of his compositions conjures an image of the household cat prancing along the keys of the piano. By use of the "secondary rag," a syncopated grouping of regular quadruple subdivisions into three-note sets, the technical demands of the piece have been cleverly notated for ease of performance. This innovative arrangement is a pleasant addition to the library.

Definitive history traces the genre's growth and diversification from its 19th-century origins through its heyday and modern revival. Discusses 48 major composers and 800 rags. More than 100 photos.

Count Guido Deiro (1886-1950), Italian-born composer and accordion virtuoso. Deiro was a major force in the popularization of the accordion in the early 20th century. Concert accordionist and scholar Henry Doktorski has transcribed and edited all of Deiro's original music for accordion-45 pieces including waltzes, rags, marches, polkas, fox trots, tangos, and popular Deiro favorites: My Florence Waltz, Egypto Fantasia, Sharpshooter's March, and the Broadway hit, Kismet.A lengthy essay and rare photos from the Deiro family archive complete the 192-page book.

The popularity of cartoon music, from Carl Stalling's work for Warner Bros. to Disney sound tracks and "The Simpsons"' song parodies, has never been greater. This lively and fascinating look at cartoon music's past and present collects contributions from well-known music critics and cartoonists, and interviews with the principal cartoon composers. Here Mark Mothersbaugh talks about his music for "Rugrats," Alf Clausen about composing for "The Simpsons," Carl Stalling about his work for Walt Disney and Warner Bros., Irwin Chusid about Raymond Scott's work, Will Friedwald about "Casper the Friendly Ghost," Richard Stone about his music for "Animaniacs," Joseph Lanza about "Ren and Stimpy," and much, much more.

Ragtime: An Encyclopedia, Discography, and Sheetography is the definitive reference work for this important popular form of music that flourished from the 1890s through the 1920s, and was one of the key predecessors of jazz. It collects for the first time entries on all the important composers and performers, and descriptions of their works; a complete listing of all known published ragtime compositions, even those self-published and known only in single copies; and a complete discography from the cylinder era to today. It also represents the culmination of a lifetime’s research for its author, considered to be the foremost scholar of ragtime and early twentiethh-century popular music. Rare photographs accompany most entries, taken from the original sheets, newspapers, and other archival sources.

Pianist George Shearing is that rare thing, a European jazz musician who became a household name in the US, as a result of the "Shearing sound"—the recordings of his historic late 1940s quintet. Together with his unique "locked hands" approach to playing the piano, Shearing's quintet with guitar and vibraphone in close harmony to his own playing revolutionized small group jazz, and ensured that after seven years as Melody Maker's top British pianist, he achieved even greater success in America. His compositions have been recorded by everyone from Sarah Vaughan to Miles Davis, and his best known pieces include "Lullaby of Birdland", "She" and "Conception". His story is all the more remarkable because Shearing was born blind. His candid reminiscences include a behind the scenes experience of New York's 52nd Street in its heyday, as well as memories of a vast roll-call of professional colleagues that includes all the great names in jazz.

A terrific collection of songs by George Gershwin that the composer has arranged as piano solos. Ideal for the intermediate pianist and a great insight into the mind of one America's greatest composers. Titles: The Man I Love * I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise * Do It Again * Fascinating Rhythm * Oh, Lady Be Good * Somebody Loves Me * Sweet and Low Down * Clap Yo' Hands * Do Do Do * My One and Only * 'S Wonderful * Strike Up the Band * I Got Rhythm * Who Cares? * That Certain Feeling * Liza

To mark the 100th anniversary of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag, authors Jasen and Jones have written a fascinating history of the ragtime era throughout the United States. Following the craze as it spread from St. Louis through the mid-West & South, to the West & finally to the East Coast & New York, they provide a cultural history of America through its popular culture.