Review

Dizzy Trio
Hayseed Rag:

Arranged by Roger Bobo


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2008
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Hayseed Rag is a novelty harmonica tune performed and recorded by the Dizzy Trio in the first half of the twentieth century. Written in a two-beat feel, it includes quotes from “Old Folks at Home” and “Turkey in the Straw.” This arrangement by Roger Bobo attempts to capture the lighthearted nature of the original. Range is moderately challenging in the key of B-flat major. Both trumpet parts ascend to c3, the horn part includes a g2, and the trombone part covers F to b-flat1. The tuba part is the most conservative, ranging from BB-flat to f. After starting with a measure of 4/4 followed by a measure of 3/4, the meter returns to 4/4 for the duration of the piece. Except for the occasional syncopation, the accompanying parts are quite easy. The real challenge in this arrangement is contained in the melody and solos. Trumpets carry the bulk of the melodic responsibility including some tricky “wah-wah” muted passages, in addition to a variety of rips and falls, some starting on c3, and rapid technical passages. Horn, trombone, and tuba each have short solos that contain moderate technical difficulties. The trombone part includes tenor clef and also specifies wah-wah mute. Hayseed Rag is accessible to college-level brass quintets with strong trumpet players. It is a nice change of pace from standard brass quintet rag arrangements and can serve as a fun encore.

-Frank Gazda
Delaware State University