Razzle Dazzle score

[carrie horgan]

Would anyone happen to have a copy of 'Razzle Dazzle' (arranged by Emile Grimshaw; composer Harry Von Tlizer).  I've checked the music library but wondered if anyone had a copy they wouldn't mind sharing.  Thanks.

[Joel Hooks]

The article is from 1900 (I think, my copy is pretty bad).  The recording is 1903-- three years is a long time. He could have changed his opinion on it.  I doubt he is reading from a score.  He has too much power and drive to be sight-reading. One of the things I love about Ossman is the confidence in his playing.

[Shawn McSweeny]

Jody wrote :

I gave another three listens to the recording .The low D has the sound of an open string. It has more sustain and ring than the other notes on that string. So I think it's possible that the bass is elevated here. 

Hi Jody :  

You are indeed hearing an open low string, but it is not elevated. It is actually an open low C, as on this recording, Ossman is playing in key of F.

I see Marc's tab is in G, and assume the notation, which I don't have,  is written in the same key.

But no worries.  Ossman recorded a number of pieces in different keys on different occasions, so this being in F is not unusual. 

As for a raised bass, I doubt Ossman ever did that. The fabulous chops evident on his many recordings argue against his ever needing to do so.

Below is a restored copy of the recording.

RAZZLE DAZZLE by Vess Ossman

[Jody Stecher]

Of course! That explains why the key note, which I took to be G, sounded like a closed string whereas what I took to be A rang out.  I was sure "G" was a closed string and couldn't guess why Vess would prefer a fretted G to an open one. And now that I listen again and picture F fingering everything I hear accords with that. The open strings are audible as such and accord with expectations for the key of F. 

Well spotted,  Shawn.

Shawn McSweeny said:

Jody wrote :

I gave another three listens to the recording .The low D has the sound of an open string. It has more sustain and ring than the other notes on that string. So I think it's possible that the bass is elevated here. 

Hi Jody :  

You are indeed hearing an open low string, but it is not elevated. It is actually an open low C, as on this recording, Ossman is playing in key of F.

I see Marc's tab is in G, and assume the notation, which I don't have,  is written in the same key.

But no worries.  Ossman recorded a number of pieces in different keys on different occasions, so this being in F is not unusual. 

As for a raised bass, I doubt Ossman ever did that. The fabulous chops evident on his many recordings argue against his ever needing to do so.

Below is a restored copy of the recording.

RAZZLE DAZZLE by Vess Ossman

[Trapdoor2]

I used the Grimshaw arrangement, which is in G (annotated "4th string to D").

I just transposed it into F (with the bass @ C).

The chord stacks in M13 are still not pretty...I chose to keep them to 2-note stacks. That Bb note only appears on the 3rd string, 3rd fret (unless you want to run all the  way up to the 10th fret on the 4th string).

When you get to the C part that descending syncopated run...just runs out of room on the bottom. It is a very nice little descending sequence in the Grimshaw arrangement but without doing a 'note for note' dissection of Ossman's playing, I'll stick with Grimshaw, "G" and 'raised bass'.