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Polliwog's Cakewalk by paul f. page [Email]
Genre: Piano

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 1114
Comments: 19
Votes: 12
Plays: 193
Last Played: Sep 16, 2008 - 05:02:03 AM
Downloads: 33
Fans: 6
Uploaded: Dec 03, 2006 - 08:40:08 PM
Last Updated: Dec 15, 2006 - 11:49:37 PM



Description:
Why a polliwog? Here's the allusion...
A golliwog is the name of a character doll in the books of lat 19th c. American-born/British illustrator Flora Upton and was a great success in Europe at the dawn of the 20th c. A cakewalk has its roots in African-American music and is closely related to ragtime. It was played by John Phillip Sousa among others. French composer Claude
Debussy heard Souza play cakewalks and wrote that perhaps cakewalks are the one
advantage American music had over "other kinds of music." Debussy was so enthralled by the Golliwogs in his daughter's books that one movement of his "Children's Corner" suite is entitled "The Golliwog's Cakewalk." The golliwog was a mixture of bravery, adverturousness, and love. ... But stealing Debussy's title just didn't seem right. A 21st c. "take" on his little keyboard romp seems fair enough...with an appropriately humorous title to boot.

Lyrics:
a song without words

Hardware:
Roland RD-700Keyboard

Software:
Ivory Piano Software (German Steinway)
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Here's another thing I like about the music you post... &mdash 12/03/06 - 09:39:23 PM
It sounds like a real human being, who can really, really play the piano, and who loves doing it, having the time of his life...

It never sounds programmed or artifically perfect. It sounds alive... never stilted, never like someone playing a tune like they're practicing a scale...

Really vibrant. And I b'lieve we have already mentioned the tone of that Ivory Software... 99 7/8 percent pure, that is...

Ed

And....and... 'The Golliwogs' was the pre-success name of Creedence Clearwater Revival... There, see... I knew something.... almost useful...

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Polliwog &mdash 12/03/06 - 11:45:49 PM
Wow. Thanks, Ejh...Yes, sometimes I just get wound up and out it comes, just a-flyin' and a-breezin' along. This number popped out of nowhere a few weeks ago. I've never written anything remotely like it. Thought I'd take it for a spin and see what folks think.
Thank you so much for your kind comments. ... And the Credence Clearwater reference is quite cool. Talk about trivial pursuit!!!
Paul

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Wow! &mdash 12/04/06 - 12:07:14 AM
This is lively and boisterous and fun. I like it a lot. That keyboard sound is fantastic, and the playing is amazing. Woo-hoo!

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Polliwog &mdash 12/04/06 - 12:39:48 AM
thanks, Kristijo...I enjoyed myself a lot with this one. Lots of noise; little substance. Hey, it was fun. Glad you enjoyed it.
Paul

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More trivia :-) &mdash 12/04/06 - 06:16:30 AM
In the U.S. Navy, a Polliwog is a sailor who has never crossed the equator. :-)

Ed, thanks for that bit about CCR!

Paul, thanks for this lively, fun piece. Sounds like you had a great time playing it. I'm starting to think that there isn't any style you can't play.

God bless,

Rick

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Polliwog &mdash 12/04/06 - 08:32:56 AM
Thanks, Rick. Glad you enjoyed the number. It's a lot of fun to play this kind of stuff, free-form as it is and with absolutely no agenda whatsoever. I can't tell you yet if there will be more. When the Muse speaks, I'm the medium.
Peace.
Paul

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coooool &mdash 12/04/06 - 10:38:47 AM
man, this is so fun!...really just has a bunch of positive energy and forward motion. Great piano sound! The playing is just superb. Thanks!!

best regards
z

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Polliwog &mdash 12/04/06 - 01:14:53 PM
Ziti,
thanks so much for your comment about Polliwog. I am happy you had a chance to listen, that you enjoyed it, and that you took the time to comment. I had a lot of fun writing this little number and recording it.
Peace.
Paul

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exuberant playing! &mdash 12/04/06 - 11:43:00 AM
Your keyboard skills are downright impressive.

The energy of this piece is quite high, and it pushes forward impetuously. Sometimes it seemed almost to trip over itself -- hence the golliwog reference I suspect.

I would have liked to hear just a bit more deliberation in the tempo at times, to create more space for the ears, such as you provided towards the end.

Also, as I always say -- ;-) -- more identifiable melodic themes would enhance this potentially brilliant piece even further.

Great concept and performance, Paul!

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polliwog &mdash 12/04/06 - 01:09:40 PM
Thanks, Cameron, for dropping me a note. Sounds like you enjoyed the number. It was just for fun, the rhythms really interesting me more than any tune...Hey, a tune-less song. (Well, if they can do it with rap, I can do it with ragtime!)


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what a delight &mdash 12/04/06 - 11:43:08 AM
love your stuff, and this is romping and energetic, and I always appreciate your descriptive background explanations... faved!
ttfn,
Drakonis

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Polliwog &mdash 12/04/06 - 01:12:56 PM
Eduard,
Just "much ado about nothing." Glad you enjoy the Polliwog number. I couldn't get the rhythms out of my head. I'v never written anything quite like this one, but sure had some fun with it. The playing was something else, but I made it in one pass...barely. Thanks for listening in.
Paul

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very joyable !! &mdash 12/06/06 - 04:18:20 AM
certainly a real touch of Paul f Page
the notes fly so sweetly so joyfull !
thank you for sharing it here with us !!


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Polliwogg &mdash 12/06/06 - 09:15:22 AM
Thanks, Feter. I really enjoyed writing this one, though the playing was a bit of a steep curve for me. Came out okay, though. Hey, it's just for fun.
Paul

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Impeccably played, as always &mdash 12/06/06 - 06:09:56 AM
Another immediately likable tune of yours that is, as always, played beautifully and amazingly cleanly. Everything I hear of yours is of an exceptionally high standard.

Stylistically, it reminds me of the theme to 'Hill Street Blues' -- I think that's the one -- or perhaps other piano-based TV show themes like 'Cheers,' in part because these all exude a kind of "all's well with the world" optimism. I'm therefore not sure that I'd put this in the 'classical' category, but that's hair-splitting; main thing is that it's good music.

(The Wikipedia article on 'Golliwog' is well-written, and mentions some of the controversy that has surrounded this term. People can link to it here, if interested.)

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Polliwog &mdash 12/06/06 - 09:23:38 AM
Clark,
Thanks so much for your comments on Polliwog. Yes, the "hair splitting" over where to put this kind of music is annoying. I'd love to see a section on MacJams for just piano music, period. Most of my history/training is classically oriented, though I am a total fan of all sorts of pop ballads, movie themes, and contemporary piano music. (The new age-y, "piano meanderings" -- don't 'cha just love that term "piano stylings"??? -- that have no structure at all are very boring to me.) Mainly, though, I am just happy that people like yourself are enjoying what I am writing and find some satisfaction experiencing it.
Peace.
Paul

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Just wow. &mdash 12/09/06 - 01:39:22 AM
Composition, performance, everything -- just amazing work. I haven't heard a piano like this (live or otherwise) in forever. Fantastic.

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Polliwog &mdash 12/10/06 - 11:25:41 PM
I really appreciate your kind remarks and am glad the piece struck you in such a positive manner. It's great to hear the feedback and I am grateful that you took the time to send me a short note. Peace.
Paul

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Cakewalk &mdash 06/14/08 - 12:31:33 PM
Well, I've just eaten cake so this is quite apropriate!! Really great piece and performance. Some fine playing there. Did you impovise this or compose it?

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