Comment by Rob MacKillop on April 18, 2023 at 14:22

To keep Joel's temperature down :-) This is an old one, from a time when Fred Van Eps and Vess Ossman were one and the same person in my mind, apparently! 13 years ago. Not perfect, by any means, but not bad. 

Comment by Jody Stecher on April 18, 2023 at 14:55

I play this tune. It's one of my favorites. As far as I know the title is "Rag Pickings" and was composed or "arranged" ,as the sheet music says, by Fred Van Eps. As the the title suggests this is a patchwork piece; most of its phrases are quoted or paraphrased from other ragtime tunes. I am curious about the Lansing connection. Since I first encountered Rag Pickings I have assumed the assembly of phrases was done by Van Eps himself. How did you find out that Lansing had a hand in this? And was his title "Ragtime Pickings" rather than "Rag Pickings"?

By the way, when I play Rag Pickings my left and right hand is different from yours with a different sonic result. I don't think either one of us is doing it right. We are doing it right for who and how we are. I don't want everyone to play the same way. That's the thin end of the wedge of everyone dressing alike, thinking alike, speaking alike, all being the same height with the same language and the same skin color and same religion. No, Difference is good.

Comment by Rob MacKillop on April 18, 2023 at 15:01

The Lansing info came from our very own Marc Smith on Banjo Hangout. 

Yes, it's just a Rag, not Ragtime, despite being ragtime. 

I agree with everything you say in that second paragraph. 

Comment by Joel Hooks on April 18, 2023 at 15:48

George Lansing arranged a medley of popular ragtime songs title "Rag Pickings" and is totally different from this.

According to people who knew FVE, FVE claimed that he was given this piece "by a guitarist".  That is all we have regarding who composed it.

Comment by Rob MacKillop on April 18, 2023 at 16:02

Good to know. 

Comment by Joel Hooks on April 18, 2023 at 16:03

BTW, there was a typo in the published score.  Line 3, measure 1, the F should be sharp (and line 7, measure 1- page 2 line 3, measure 1).  FVE would correct people's copy for them.

Comment by Rob MacKillop on April 18, 2023 at 16:10

Yes, I vaguely remember someone telling me that after I did the video 13 years ago, possibly yourself, Joel. 

Comment by Trapdoor2 on April 18, 2023 at 16:11

Mea Culpa. I think I conflated the two. My transcription says "George Lansing, arr. Fred Van Eps". The original dots say "arr. by Fred Van Eps".

Heck, I can't even find a copy of Lansing's tune...I know I have it somewhere.

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