[ Editor's Note:
 [
 [ Terry, thanks for these reports.  I've been on the road myself, so
 [ I'm sorry but I wasn't able to get the first one out in time for
 [ the second of the reports to be seperated enough for there to
 [ be some suspense!
 [
 [ Jody

Today - Day 2 - The Convention featured workshops and the Ragtime
Banquet (St. Louis being the heartland of ragtime).

I attended workshops presented by Rob Deland (Collectible Music Rolls),
Trebor Tichenor (Evolution of Ragtime via piano rolls), and Rick
Alabaster (Leathers and Rubberized Fabrics).

Rob Deland's presentation included some neat anecdotal stories about
the greats of ragtime and included some marvelous selections such as
Blooie-Blooie p/b Edythe Baker and Carolina Shout p/b James P.
Johnson.  Rob is a fountain of knowledge about music rolls, with
particular emphasis on ragtime.  He finished with an appeal for all to
never again use Magic Mending Tape to repair rolls.  Rather, use
Filmoplast P, a patching tape manufactured for librarians, available
from Light Impressions (1-800-828-6216), University Products
(1-800-628-1912), or Gaylord Brothers (1-800-448-6160)

Trebor Tichenor, using piano rolls as his medium, demonstrated the
evolution of ragtime from very early attempts to shoehorn contemporary
folk music into the emerging ragtime idiom,  into current contemporary
ragtime compositions.  Fine presentation.

Rick Alabaster is Managing Director of

    Australia Felix Trading Co. Pty. Ltd.
    15 Olinda Street
    Glen Waverly
    Melbourne  3150, Australia
    6-13-9-560-8016
    6-13-9-560-5926 (fax)

and gave an excellent presentation on leathers and rubberized fabrics
well suited to automatic musical instruments.  He included some
interesting facts about Australia's climate and how it affects the
reproductive cycle of kangaroos, often leading to worldwide shortages.
He also explained why kangaroo leather is so much superior than all
other leathers.  Switching to rubberized fabrics, he discussed the
construction  and characteristics of single and double ply fabrics.

He had with him full skin samples of about a dozen different types of
leather, and swatch samples of about a dozen kinds of rubberized
fabric.  Most interesting discussion, including comments on how to
detect fake kangaroo skins, and a strong recommendation to seal pouch
letter with only a natural rubber solution thinned with naptha.

For the first (?) time, there was not a 'free' convention piano roll.
However, something better was offered.  Several new piano rolls
received their world introduction, and will be available for sale at
the Mart tomorrow night.  They included:

   1.  An outstanding new ragtime composition, "The Leaclede's Landing
       Rag, composed and played by Eric Bernhoft, and pumped by the
       composer.  I highly recommend it.

   2.  An exciting "4th of July Medley", featuring the following tunes
       MIDI recorded and played by Scott Kirby as based upon a Eubie
       Blake tape recording of some 20 years ago.  Presented by and
       available from Rob Deland.

          Grand Old Flag
          76 Trombones
          Washington Post
          Stars and Stripes Forever

       I highly recommend it.

   3.  "The Tricolor March" (composed and played by Lee Roberts), from
       a rare Apolla Red X piano roll.  Presented by and available from
       Robin Pratt.  I highly recommend it.

   4.  "The will be no new tunes on this old piano!", composed by John
       Bogatko.  Presented by Shawn Fox for QRS from whom it is
       available.  I highly recommend it.

   5.  A new "4 Tune Medley" for 20 note monkey organs such as Raffins,
       Hofbauers, & Jager und Brommer organs.  Presented by Angelo
       Rulli and available from Jager und Brommer.  Tunes include Meet
       Me in St. Louis, Louie, Take me out to the ball game, By the
       light of the silvery moon, and Let me call you sweetheart.
       First tune only played by Angelo, arrangement very smooth and
       melodic.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Mr. J. Douglas Hamilton,
Director of Scott Joplin House.  He came on as "The Professor", and
started things with a stunning slow rag that brought tears to many
eyes.  He played the part of an again 'professor' who personally knew
Scott Joplin, and played the part convincingly.

The Children's Performing Arts Academy, directed by Richard Martin,
brought on a group of 8 children who demonstrated traditional tap dance
routines, conducted a "Challenge" contest among his students, who then
went into the audience for partner selection and a 'Charleston"
tutorial.  Delightful group.

Then on came the "St, Louis Ragtimers" composed of Trebor Tichenor, Al
Stricker, Don Franz, Bill Mason and Eric Sager.  They gave us an
outstanding concert of authentic ragtime band performances.  Great
show!

The evening concluded with J. Douglas Hamilton playing Scott Joplin's
"New Rag".

Absolutely memorable evening!  The whole performance was taped, and
$20 (US) copies may be obtained from:

    Lynch Television Productions
    3424 Humphrey
    St. Louis, MO   63118
    (314) 664-5008 (voice/fax)
    InterNet email:   lynchm@medicine.wustl.edu

Regards,

Terry¶
(Coming to you from beautiful downtown St. Louis)

•Terry Smythe                    (204) 832-3982 (voice/fax)
55 Rowand Avenue                smythe@mts.net
Winnipeg, MB, Canada   R3J 2n6  smythe@freenet.mb.ca
Home page: http://www.mts.net/~smythe