Since rags have been suggested as 'lighter American party music', I'd add
to the already-named classic rags my three modern ones, two written in the
'70s, one in the nineties:
Reflective Rag and Judy's Rag
- recorded by Virginia Eskin on Northeastern: "Fluffy Ruffle Girls"
and Zaimont on 4-Tay: "Summer Melodies"
'Hesitation' Rag - recorded by Eskin on Koch: "Spring Beauties".
All three are published by Vivace Press. Judy's Rag and 'Hesitation' Rag
are shaped not unlike a Chopin polonaise (with complete trios). Reflective
Rag is the more classic rag shape of a plain 5-part rondo; the Ragtime
Machine's David Reffkin has arranged it for a pit-band type rag septet.
Judith Lang Zaimont
Professor of Composition
School of Music - University of Minnesota
WEBsite: http://www.joblink.org/jzaimont/