Request for Piano Accompaniment Sheet Music

[Aaron Jonah Lewis]

Hello Beloved Classic Banjo Community!

I recently found a pianist in my city who is interested in playing accompaniments to some of the classic banjo pieces I have learned. Now I have to track down the sheet music! Although many piano parts are included with the scores I've downloaded from this site, many are also missing. Does anyone have piano scores for any of the following --

Fred Van Eps's versions of

James Scott - Ragtime Oriole

James Scott - Grace and Beauty

Stephen Foster - Old Folks at Home (Theme & Variations)

George Lansing/Victor Herbert - Chinese Picnic (originally titled Pride of the South)/Oriental Dance

I'm also looking for piano parts for the following, which FVE may or may not have played, but I don't have any recordings for these by anyone, just looking for piano parts -- 

Joe Morley - Zarana

Frank Lawes - Progressions

Emile Grimshaw's arrangement of Rachmaninoff's Prelude

Chris Sands's arrangement of Scott Joplin's The Rag-Time Dance

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[thereallyniceman]

Hi, I will look later. I am sure that I have a couple, at least, but they don't seem to be in the heap where I thought they were!

I have attached Piano for Zarana... that should keep you going for a while !

I have also found the piano I used when I played Grace and Beauty. This is not a published version, only my one that I entered into my notation software so there may be mistakes !!!!!!!

Ian

[Aaron Jonah Lewis]

Thank you so much Ian, these are really helpful! We're having our first rehearsal tomorrow. I'm still very hopeful that someone out there will have piano parts for Ragtime Oriole, Chinese Picnic/Oriental Dance, and Old Folks at Home. Many many thanks!

thereallyniceman said:

Hi, I will look later. I am sure that I have a couple, at least, but they don't seem to be in the heap where I thought they were!

I have attached Piano for Zarana... that should keep you going for a while !

I have also found the piano I used when I played Grace and Beauty. This is not a published version, only my one that I entered into my notation software so there may be mistakes !!!!!!!

Ian

[Richard William Ineson]

The Van Eps arrangements of 'Ragtime Oriole' and 'Grace and Beauty' are on this site in the Tutor Book department - Van Eps Banjo Solos.

The cover is confusing as it looks as if it's just the 'Maple Leaf Rag'. 

[thereallyniceman]

Hi Richard,

Good advice, but I believe that Aaron is only looking for the PIANO parts for these pieces as he already has the banjo part.

[Richard William Ineson]

My mind isn't what it was, I easily get confused. The piano scores will be available on the internet on one of the 'free scores' sites I would think, but they might not be in the same key as the banjo arrangements.

[Richard William Ineson]

Alan Middleton did an arrangement of the Ragtime Dance complete with piano accompaniment for the Clifford Essex Co. which might still be available. I've had a look at my pile and I don't have the Rachmaninoff Prelude piano score or Lawes' 'Progressions' which were there at one time - the banjo music bogie man has been in the night.

[Aaron Jonah Lewis]

I would love to find those piano parts you mentioned for Ragtime Dance and for Progressions, Richard. For the James Scott piano rags I am specifically searching for the piano parts that Van Eps's accompanist played and not the original piano scores. Unless, does anyone know whether Van Eps's pianist simply played James Scott's original piano scores?

Richard William Ineson said:

Alan Middleton did an arrangement of the Ragtime Dance complete with piano accompaniment for the Clifford Essex Co. which might still be available. I've had a look at my pile and I don't have the Rachmaninoff Prelude piano score or Lawes' 'Progressions' which were there at one time - the banjo music bogie man has been in the night.

[Richard William Ineson]

Bill Ball wrote his own piano accompaniment for 'Progressions' perhaps you could ask his son Fred Determan if he could help you with that one. The Rachmaninoff should be easy to find. As to the original piano scores used by Van Eps' accompanist I think that they will take a lot of tracking down and may still be copyright. Alan Middleton's piano part for the 'Ragtime Dance' will be as good as it gets, he is a fine musician and knows what he is doing. There are quite a few 'Chinese Picnics' I may have the complete set by Hunter but this may be a different tune to the one which you are seeking. Good luck in your quest.

[Aaron Jonah Lewis]

Do you (or does anyone) have contact info for Fred Determan or know if he would be open to such requests from a stranger? I am very keen to get Ball’s piano accompaniment for Progressions, as well as his entire back catalogue of recorded work. 

Richard William Ineson said:

Bill Ball wrote his own piano accompaniment for 'Progressions' perhaps you could ask his son Fred Determan if he could help you with that one. The Rachmaninoff should be easy to find. As to the original piano scores used by Van Eps' accompanist I think that they will take a lot of tracking down and may still be copyright. Alan Middleton's piano part for the 'Ragtime Dance' will be as good as it gets, he is a fine musician and knows what he is doing. There are quite a few 'Chinese Picnics' I may have the complete set by Hunter but this may be a different tune to the one which you are seeking. Good luck in your quest.

[thereallyniceman]

Hi Aaron,

Try:  http://williamjball.co.uk/page11.html

Freddie's email address is at the bottom of the page.