The Graceful Ghost

I'm Not Just Playing Around Here!

I remember the first time I heard William Bolcom’s Graceful Ghost. I had no idea what that charming piece was. I guess I hadn’t heard the announcement. I knew it was some sort of piano rag, but… different! I loved the difference. Of course it was on Public Radio, which was a new thing in North Louisiana in the 1970’s.

It wasn’t until much later that I actually heard Bolcom play. He was featured at an MTNA Conference, receiving an award. He performed with his wife, Joan Morris. She was famous for being an old school cabaret singer who strove to sing in the style of older popular music to honor the original singers. William had won a Pulitzer Prize for composition earlier, and he had actually accumulated three Ghost Rags by the time I sought out a score for the first rag.

William Bolcom at the Piano

A friend at a neighboring university had performed the Graceful Ghost in the early 1990’s, and I loved the sound all over again. I ordered the score when I was preparing a presentation on piano rags of all eras. Most know Scott Joplin as THE Rag composer. There were many before him, and now after him, even into the 20th and 21st centuries. I think Bolcom’s take is unique and endearing. I don’t think the 2nd and 3rd Ghost Rags are as accessible to the general public. I have studied them as a matter of course, but I think I will only perform the first.

If you are curious you can hear a performance when I played for my Performance Group. You can see someone’s foot tapping off to the side. If it bothers you, just look away. Click here to view on YouTube:

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