Work

Programme Note

Mystery Rag (1989) is a melange of Mahler’s symphonies (in particular, his Symphony No. 6) and piano ragtime. In Elegiac Rag (1989) the melodies are influenced by a Bach chorale (In Thee is Joy) and it concludes with a transcription of a Welsh hymn tune, O Fryniau Caersalem (‘From Salem’s Hills Yonder in Glory’) originally sung by Pedwarawd Wilkes-Barre, a Welsh choir from Pennsylvania in the 1920s. It appeared on a 1985 Morning Star Records release entitled You Can Tell The World About This. The last piece in this tryptich, Transylvanian Tickler (1990) is a shameless pastiche of Bartok in ragtime.

Difficulty:

Advanced

Influences:

• Romanticism
• Eastern European - other
• German

Performance History

	02 Mar 1991	Performed by Matthew Davidson at Smith Recital Hall, Music Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, United States of America
		Matthew Davidson
	25 Sep 1991	Performed by Anthony De Mare at Tyron Theater, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts ‘Mystery Rag’ from Three Elusive Rags
	26 Feb 1992	Performed by Matthew Davidson at the concert, ‘Contemporary American and New Zealand music for 1 and 2 pianos’ at the Recital Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, United States of America ‘Elegiac Rag’ from Three Elusive Rags
		Matthew Davidson
	23 Apr 1994	Performed by Matthew Davidson at Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, Illinois, United States of America ‘Elegiac Rag’ and ‘Transylvanian Ticker’ from Three Elusive Rags
		Matthew Davidson
	09 Jul 1994	Performed by Matthew Davidson as part of the Orpheus Classical Music Series at Harold Washington Public Library, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
		Matthew Davidson