Rag-Time Dance: 3 Trumpets & 3 Flugel Horns Score & Parts

David Marlatt's arrangement captures the ingenious interplay between melody and accompaniment that defines Joplin's best work while distributing the musical material generously across six parts. The addition of stylistically idiomatic counter melodies creates fresh texture without feeling anachronistic, giving each player meaningful contributions rather than padding the voicing.

Spirited and rhythmically alive, with the kind of infectious bounce that ragtime demands. The instrumentation gives the piece brightness and clarity; the alternating melodic duties keep the listener's ear moving between the trumpet and flugelhorn families, creating constant forward momentum.

Brass ensembles and festival groups looking for character-driven repertoire at the medium level. This works equally well for competitive festival settings, concert programs that want something beyond standard overture fare, or educational settings where students need to engage with syncopation and period style.

• Keep the syncopated rhythms articulate but unrushed. Ragtime loses its charm when the pulse becomes frantic; aim for clear separation between the syncopated figures and the steady pulse underneath.
• Balance the trumpet and flugelhorn timbres deliberately. The arrangement asks them to share melodic and accompaniment duties, so rehearse passages where they switch roles to ensure smooth tonal transitions.
• Pay close attention to the newly composed counter melodies in score study; these lines are easy to overshadow with the famous main themes. Give them equal weight in the texture.
• Treat the rag accompaniment figures as central to the arrangement's identity, not as background support. These rhythmic patterns drive the piece forward, so anchor your ensemble's feel through them.

Position this as a contrasting centerpiece in a concert dominated by standard classical or contemporary work. Its immediate accessibility and upbeat character make it an excellent bridge between formal repertoire and lighter fare, or use it to open a second half and signal a shift in mood.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms accurately against a steady pulse
• Balancing articulation in rapid, repeated figures without losing tonal quality
• Distinguishing between melodic and accompaniment roles within a single ensemble texture
• Responding to style requirements specific to ragtime (tempo discipline, rhythmic clarity)
• Transitioning smoothly between trumpet and flugelhorn colors in the same section