Back * Home * Next * Commentary * Scores

			David Stybr: Rolling River Rag for Piano (4:10)
MIDI Click here to play a MIDI version of this score. If you cannot see the score, click here to get the Scorch plug-in. Produced using Sibelius.

Return to Top

David Stybr: Engineer and Composer

It's Left Brain vs. Right Brain: best 2 falls out of 3

Rolling River Rag for Piano (4:10)

Commentary by Left Brain and Right Brain.

Right Brain: "The really cool thing about my Rolling River Rag is that pirates can call it by its initials: Arrrr, Arrrr, Arrrr, me mateys!"

Left Brain: "Au contraire, Monsieur Jean LeFou, my Rolling River Rag is most noteworthy for its very simplicity. This inspired a complex challenge: to create music of strong personality within an extremely narrow range: rock-steady tempo, unchanged dynamics and elementary form."

Right Brain: "Okay, okay. But without a true development (except changes in harmony and texture), the melodies must carry and balance all the weight. Kinda like a seal balancing 4 or 5 beach balls. Most rags are in basic march form: AABBCCDD, or AABBACCDD. Instead, my Rolling River Rag is in expanded rondo form with interrelated themes: AABACCABA. Abra cadabra!"