Ragtime Century by David Miles

[Hal Allert]

I came across a listing for this book by the late, great David Miles. Has anyone ever seen it? Is it just the right hand of the piano that he arranged? What about the left hand? Is it still available and where?

[Dennis Lewis]

have got this book purchased it in 1992 from David a great book for banjo contains 100 rags arranged for 5 string classic banjo

[thereallyniceman]

Hi Hal,
I around 2009/10 I wanted to buy this book myself. I found David Miles' phone number and rang only to have it answered by his distraught wife who told me he had just had a major stroke and was seriously ill in hospital.... so I never did buy a copy!

I never met him but believe that he did recover sufficiently to receive the British Empire Medal for services to the banjo!

I have an article somewhere but can't seem to find it. He died not long after.

I do have one book by him "Pop goes the Banjo 2", but never really liked with his arrangements... but that may be just me. Here is an example:

I suggest that you contact site member David Wade who may have a copy or may be able to suggest where you may find one.

[Thomas Edgar]

Hi Hal, I found this reference in

THE BANJOISTS’ BROADSHEET NO. 189 FOR OCTOBER 2004 PAGE 8

Hope this gives you a little more information you can use.  I've also copied the information about several other David Miles books.

Ragtime Century

for the 5-string banjo

A layflat, spirally bound, book containing 100 rags

by Joplin and others arranged for 5-string banjo by

David Miles and Jack Holliday. In musical notation

with fingering and position markings. Arrangements

follow original piano copy. £25.00

Mastering the Classical Banjo

A comprehensive tutor by David Miles. Nearly 200

pages of instruction, graded exercises and music to

take the beginner to the most advanced stages of

playing. Also section dealing with self

accompaniment for the troubadour. £25.00

Bouquet of Classics for Banjo

120 pieces from the repertoire of the lute, guitar, and

other sources, arranged for 5-string banjo by David

Miles. £28.00

Morley Mania

83 of Joe Morley’s banjo solos for £20. 52 second

banjo parts for use with above for £13. £32 if

ordered together. Both with bound backs.

POP Goes the Banjo

Popular songs from 1560-1960. Musical notation,

fingering, position marking, plus chord symbols.

Half the songs are from the 20th century. Each book

contains 100 songs. Where appropriate 2 versions

are shown – “straight” and “swingy”. All are

written out with chord symbols, as well as fingering

and position markings. Spiral-bound, lay-flat

format. Vols 1 to 6, all at £25 each when ordered

singly. If two are ordered, any of vols 1 to 5 will be

reduced to £20 each. All prices include postage and

packing; payment by cheque or postal order. Only

from David Miles, 6 Millbridge Mews, St Andrew

St, Hertford, SG14 1HE. Index of each volume free

on request.

[thereallyniceman]

Note from Ian:

Please bear in mind that David Miles has died and his family may not wish to be contacted directly regarding his books !

[Hal Allert]

Thanks, Thomas. That is where I found my reference.
Thomas Edgar said:

Hi Hal, I found this reference in

THE BANJOISTS’ BROADSHEET NO. 189 FOR OCTOBER 2004 PAGE 8

at

http://www.unicyclist.org/pdf/felix.pdf

Hope this gives you a little more information you can use.  I've also copied the information about several other David Miles books.

Ragtime Century

for the 5-string banjo

A layflat, spirally bound, book containing 100 rags

by Joplin and others arranged for 5-string banjo by

David Miles and Jack Holliday. In musical notation

with fingering and position markings. Arrangements

follow original piano copy. £25.00

Mastering the Classical Banjo

A comprehensive tutor by David Miles. Nearly 200

pages of instruction, graded exercises and music to

take the beginner to the most advanced stages of

playing. Also section dealing with self

accompaniment for the troubadour. £25.00

Bouquet of Classics for Banjo

120 pieces from the repertoire of the lute, guitar, and

other sources, arranged for 5-string banjo by David

Miles. £28.00

Morley Mania

83 of Joe Morley’s banjo solos for £20. 52 second

banjo parts for use with above for £13. £32 if

ordered together. Both with bound backs.

POP Goes the Banjo

Popular songs from 1560-1960. Musical notation,

fingering, position marking, plus chord symbols.

Half the songs are from the 20th century. Each book

contains 100 songs. Where appropriate 2 versions

are shown – “straight” and “swingy”. All are

written out with chord symbols, as well as fingering

and position markings. Spiral-bound, lay-flat

format. Vols 1 to 6, all at £25 each when ordered

singly. If two are ordered, any of vols 1 to 5 will be

reduced to £20 each. All prices include postage and

packing; payment by cheque or postal order. Only

from David Miles, 6 Millbridge Mews, St Andrew

St, Hertford, SG14 1HE. Index of each volume free

on request.

[Trapdoor2]

Clifford Essex Music offers about a dozen Miles' arrangements as sheet music. Mostly ragtime pieces.

[Hal Allert]

Thanks Marc.

Trapdoor2 said:

Clifford Essex Music offers about a dozen Miles' arrangements as sheet music. Mostly ragtime pieces.

[David Wade]

Looks like it's opportune for me to interject here.

First of all none of David's book are available commercially.

David transferred copyright for everything he produced to Clifford Essex Music two or three years before he passed away. CEMCO have published a few of his arrangements where there are no Copyright  Issues.

For a company like CEMCO to publish any of David's books would be a Copyright minefield!

Copyright laws in the UK are far more restrictive than in the US, a fact often misunderstood by our American cousins.

Shortly before David passed away, he and I worked on the syllabus for the David Miles Cup which is competed for a bi-annual British BMG Federation Rally. David asked me to oversee the competition and act as adjudicator which it has been my pleasure to do for the last two Rallies. David's family have no direct interest in his work - just before Christmas his youngest daughter passed on to me two curver boxes of David's manuscripts. These are in the process of being catalogued. If anyone wants a specific arrangement then I'm happy to help - I can supply the list of pieces for the DM Cup if anyone is interested in entering the competition in 2016.