School of Syncopation - Jazz, Stride, Novelties & the Like

[liveforpiano]

Here is a part list of music I have by Billy Mayerl. The complete list takes six sides of fullscap so I won't do it all.
There is no particular order in the list as I have entered it in my catalogue as I got the music.

Railroad Rhythm
All-of-a-Twist, Virginia Creeper,Jazz Mistress, Eskimo Shivers, Jazzaristrix, The Jazzmaster. (6 Pianolettes)
Marigold
Wedding of an Ant, Ladybird Lullaby, Praying Mantis. Beetle in the bottle, (Insect odities)
Nimble fingered Gentleman
Jill all alone
Romanesque
Sleepy Piano, Jack-in-the Box, Antiquary, Loose Elbows (4 Piano Exaggerations)
The Forgotten Forest
Pastorale Exotique
White Heather
Four aces Suite
Three contrasts
Aquarium Suite (4 Pieces)
3 Japanese Pictures
3 Dances in Syncopation
The Big Top (5 Pieces)
Weeping Willow
In My Garden (12 Pieces).
The Legend of King Arthur (6 Pieces)
3 Syncopated Rambles
Parade of the Sandwich-Board Men
18 Studies in Syncopation (In 3 books of 6 pieces).

Obviously there is a lot more. But this will give you an idea of what I have. I do have about 40 of his transcriptions as well.

[fhimpsl]

Hi Peter,

That is a great collection of Mayerl! Now I have scores to these as well, so how about we share the uploading alphabetically; i.e. I will take the titles beginning with "A" and you the "B's" and so on? Otherwise I'll be happy to upload them all, it just will take a lot longer! I'll plan to start posting Mayerl in the next few days.

All best,

Frank

[fhimpsl]

And now for something completely different - an unpublished Zez Confrey pop song from 1921, arranged for voice and piano and with a special extended novelty piano chorus in the Zez Confrey style. In 1921, Zez filed copyright on the tune "Jap-A-Lac-Ee" with lyrics by Alex Gerber. It was never published, and exists at the Library of Congress only as a single note melody line leadsheet (no chord indications) and a crumbly onionskin typewritten copy of the lyrics. This is typical of how a song was filed for copyright back then. IF the song was to be published, then two published copies were required by LOC for the copyright to be assigned.

I obtained this leadsheet with lyrics back in the early 80s and made up a vocal/piano version of it, harmonizing as best as I could always thinking of Confrey's style and how he might have done it. The piano accompaniment is heavily influenced by Confrey's piano roll style, and in the two-page novelty piano solo at the end I tried to incorporate virtually every Confrey "trick" in the book. So for something you'll never find anywhere else, why not try Confrey's "Jap-A-Lac-Ee" from 1921. As Fats Waller used to say, "Here 'Tis!"

Frank

Confey-Himpsl - Jap-A-Lac-Ee - Song and Novelty Piano Transcription.pdf

[fhimpsl]

Billy Mayerl - a genius as pianist and composer both. I've noted that a number of his works are already posted on this thread, such as "Aquarium Suite," "Autumn Crocus," "Bats In The Belfry" and "Jasmine." With a composer having this depth of melodic gift, I would think filling in the gaps for the PP archive is worthwhile. Hence I will start posting the missing works, in alphabetical order, and if I miss any of them please do let me know.

Frank

Mayerl - A Lily Pond.pdf

[fhimpsl]

Mayerl - All-Of-A-Twist.pdf

[fhimpsl]

Mayerl - Antiquary.pdf

[fhimpsl]

Mayerl - April's Fool.pdf

[fhimpsl]

Mayerl - Balearic Episode.pdf

[fhimpsl]

Mayerl - Beetle In The Bottle.pdf

[fhimpsl]

Mayerl - Beguine Impromptu.pdf