Homer Denney - "Caliope Rag"

Looks a little like a young Jazzou

I have a copy of that, given to me by Pat Sullivan years ago when I really was a young Jazzou.

Keith, are you familiar with another "Calliope Rag" (this one with two L's) written by the great James Scott? Supposedly, Mr. Scott was inspired to write it when he heard a calliope being played on a steamboat up in St. Paul.

It's a favorite rag of mine, and also I've found most banjo players I've worked enjoy playing it, too. I recorded it on my "Riverboat Ragtime" CD in 1981, on which I also did Homer Denney's wonderful composition "Chimes."

You probably have them, but if you would like a copy of the sheet music for either piece, I would be happy to send it/them to you. Let me know at [email protected]

Thanks very much, but I think those are in the archives -- somewhere! Capt. Doc Hawley gave me a tattered old copy of Homer Denney's composition entitled "Cheese & Crackers" -- which also happens to be the phrase Capt. Jesse P. Hughes used in lieu of curse words!

Hi, Jazzou:
Just catching up on older postings and read yours here late tonight Re: Homer Denney. You and Keith are dead on Re: his celebrated pieces 'Calliope Rag' and 'Cheese & Crackers.' Within the last year or so members of the Denney family have re-established communication with me after all these years. I well recall Homer visiting his Denney relatives next door to us in the old East End, Cincinnati. Those Sunday musical fests were something to see and hear. I recall Homer on the last ISLAND QUEEN at the console of her giant calliope when I was a small one in 1947.

Jeremy Stevenson, of the Denney lineage, is a fine professional musician in his own right living near here in Loveland, Oh. He kindly presented me with a vintage copy in mint condition of 'Chimes,' A Novelty Rag by Homer Denney, 1910. Played nightly on STEAMER ISLAND QUEEN. It was produced by Denney-Piper, Publishers 2105 Eastern Ave, Cincinnati. Denney is emblazoned as Composer of 'Hot Cabbage,' 'Cheese & Crackers,' 'Tangle Fingers Rag.'

It's been over 50 years but I can still hear those Sunday family music programs with Homer on piano; nieces, nephews on strings, drum and brass. I found a copy of 'Calliope Rag' in a garbage pile nearly 40 years ago and sent on to Capt. Fred Way for the S&D collection in Marietta. That was a popular piece and appears with some frequency in private collections and music libraries. I can't recall ever hearing it in the live.

Cheers,
R. Dale Flick

P.S. Forgot to mention that while rooting through a pile of old sheet music in a flea market I found a piece entitled Calliope Gallop. Ever hear of this one?

Sounds kinda like a passenger activity...but it probably wouldn't be as popular as the stroll, which on a hot day in Mississippi is more like a saunter or a meander.

Charles Hartlaub

I realize this is quite an old post, but I found this while performing an internet search.

I am researching my family history and it turns out that Charles Hartlaub was my great grandfather. My grandmother, Peggy Myers (Hartlaub) will turn 90 on February 9th, 2012. She often remembers and tells stories about her father, who, at that time, was also a riverboat performer. She also told me that he was one of the first improvisational pianists in the early nickelodeon days of motion pictures.

My grandmother mentioned that she hadn't heard the song "Caliope Rag" since she was a teenager. The sheet music was lost and they had not recording devices (due to the fact that they were quite poor). Putting the internet to use, I was able to find the sheet music (at Mississippi State University Library) and found a local professor to play and record it for me. It is truly a family treasure that I can present to her this week.

My question to anyone on the thread is, does anyone else have any more information about the piece that I may not know? I have a PDF of the sheet music. I know it was published in 1911 by Joseph Krolage Music in Cincinnati. I know that it was written by Charles and Sylvester Hartlaub, but made popular by Homer Denney. That's about it. I'd be interested in hearing anything else anyone might know about it or if anyone has the original sheet music, I'd love to know that it exists.

Thanks to all!

Brett

Here's some rather erroneous info...

I'm sure Keith and/or Travis will respond shortly, but here's an interesting site I just happened across through Google:

http://www.perfessorbill.com/midi/calliop2.mid

Calliope Rag (Calliope version)
Calliope Rag (Piano Rag version)

James Scott & Bob Darch, arranged and edited by Bill Edwards - c. 1906: From the time the steam calliope was invented by J.C. Stoddard in the 1850s, it found a special niche in circuses and riverboats. Requiring a boiler to generate steam to blow through the pipes, calliopes ranged from 32 to 53 notes in scope, and some models could be heard for several miles. This was good for showboats or circuses announcing their arrival in town, but bad for the individual playing the device, and the premature onset of deafness was commonplace among calliope performers. By the early 1900s, many calliopes were automated through the use of a cylinder or roll, which didn't replace artists altogether, but helped to minimize their exposure to the noise.
That said, this particular piece has a rather fuzzy history that has on occasion built up its own head of steam. First published in 1964 in the third edition of They All Played Ragtime, Calliope Rag was discovered by veteran performer Ragtime Bob Darch in the late 1950s. In 1999, when the question of origin surfaced, and again in 2001 as told directly to myself, Mr. Darch clarified that several years prior to publication, and while following up a tip and visiting relatives of the late James Scott in Carthage, Missouri, he was rebuffed at the door of a home he sent to. As he walked to his car a cousin (or niece) of Scott caught up to him and showed him some music Scott had left behind. For a "deposit" of $20.00, Bob was able to borrow the papers. Attempts to XEROX the sources with then-new technology proved fruitless, so Bob jotted down the themes he found for later edification. He later filled in the harmonies and composed a trio, copyrighted the piece, and had it included it in the centerfold music area of the third and fourth editions of TAPR. It is thought to have been composed by Scott prior to 1910 for performance on a steam calliope in Lakeside Amusement Park near Carthage, Missouri. While what part of it was added to or altered by either composer, Scott likely composed the A section melody and possibly the B strain, or a large part of it. The trio (written in the initial key of F with no modulation), was composed by Darch, who solicted help through some consultation with other ragtimers. However, Bob did not take credit for any of the enhancements when TAPR was published. As of 2001, He was both pleased about the attention still given the rag, and humble about his important role in its discovery and subsequent exposure.
Based on this knowledge, I have constructed two versions of this rag. The first is nearly as published in TAPR, and is played on the calliope. It takes into account the fact that the instrument has a limited range (I'm keeping within 48 notes [F2 to E6], so some have been omitted), calliopes do not have a sustain pedal, and the notes are often hard to press because they are directly connected to a valve that lets the steam blow through the pipes. I have also reconstructed the 8 measure trio into a full 16 bars. After listening to this, the theory that it was composed for the instrument is quite plausible. The second version is played as a piano rag, and expands on Mr. Darch's sections in a manner similar to Scott's compositional style based on the accumulated analysis of his pieces from the last 40 years. This includes a modulation into the trio which is raised up to Bb, and a further alteration of that section into a smoother 16 bar harmonic pattern. Please note that this is done with full respect of and credit to Mr. Darch (with his complete blessing), and it is merely my take on this unusual piece. Comments, as always, are welcome.
If the first version does not sound like a steam calliope, you have an ancient sound card and should consider replacing it.
Many Thanks go to ragtime scholar Edward Berlin who initially extracted the updated information from Mr. Darch prior to my 2001 interview. Please go to my Resources Page and look up the books that Mr. Berlin has written on ragtime. They are highly recommended reading for getting inside the music.

Caliope Rag

Sorry, but I have nothing more to add to what has already been posted! Brett, I'm glad you found the music for "Caliope Rag" in time to present it to your grandmother on her special milestone birthday. And my best wishes to her for a great day in every way!

Re: Caliope Rag

Thank you, Keith. I plan to ask her for any more information she may have when I see her. I know very little about riverboat music, but this search has inspired me to learn more. I'm very glad this site is here and that there are others interested in this very interesting piece of music and American history. Take care!

Hi Brett,

Please see the private message I've sent you.

Jon, I just emailed you directly. Thanks!

Hi Judy, I think I've confused some folks. From what I've read, "Calliope Rag" was certainly composed/arranged by James Scott/Bob Darch. In fact, while researching I came across much more information on that piece than the one for which I was searching. I have also read professor bill's site that you reference.

The piece I am referencing is "Caliope Rag" (spelled, incorrectly, with one "L") that is pictured in Keith's original post. Homer Denney is featured on the cover, but the composers Charles and Sylvester Hartlaub are also noted. I am interested in learning more about this piece, if possible.

Brett - check out the top of this thread where I have some postings about both the Caliope and the Calliope Rags. If you need copies of either one, send me an [email protected]

Jazzou Jones Ragtime | Ragtime piano at its best! | Home