Rare Rags: Free Sheet Music for Rare Ragtime Piano Compositions by Ted Tjaden

Rare Rags: Free Sheet Music for Rare Ragtime Piano Compositions

Featuring hard to find ragtime piano sheet music

Set out below (A to Z by title) is a list of 94 rare rags or rare ragtime-era piano compositions available (for free) on this website that do not necessarily fall within one of the other topics or essays. By rare, I mean rags that are not already found online in any of the online resources for ragtime sheet music and that are not (easily) found in the standard print folios of ragtime music. The emphasis below is on instrumental rags (if looking for ragtime songs, please check the other essays on this site, depending on the topic).

I continue to scour eBay for rare ragtime sheet music and occasionally purchase photocopies of print sheet music from various libraries throughout the world. As I obtain copies of rare rags in the public domain, I will add them to this essay and add entries to the “What’s New” page so that readers know when new rare rags have been added.

Another source of rare rags (albeit in print) is shown in an Excel spreadsheet listing 238 instrumental rags held by the University of Colorado at Boulder Music Library that are not yet digitized or easily available elsewhere.

Rare Ragtime Compositions

	A Bashful Bachelor: Intermezzo Two Step. Lawrence Ritchie. New York, NY: Jerome H Remick, 1905. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy [top]
	A Bit O' Sunshine: Novelty Two Step. Daisy Allen. Kansas City, MO: Jones Publishing Co, undated. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Armadillo Rag*. Clarence F Brown. Galveston, TX: Thomas Goggan & Brothers, 1911. [view sheet music] (also available here in Ragtime at the Zoo: Animal Rags) Source: Copy provided by Michael Chisolm [top]
	Black & White Rag. George Botsford. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Black Cat Rag*. Lina Mumford. Grand Rapids, MI: Mumford & Co, 1901. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy from Michael Chisolm [top]
	Black Wasp Rag: A Stinger. HA Fischler (pseudonym for Harry J Lincoln). Williamsport, PA: Vandersloot Music Pub Co, 1911. [view sheet music] (also available here in Ragtime at the Zoo: Animal Rags) Source: Photocopy [top]
	*Blarney Kisses: Characteristic Irish Rag*. Holmes Travis. Chicago, IL: ML Carlson, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by a reader of this website [top]
	Bob's Chili Rag. Robert E Cleary. Spokane, WA: Robert E Cleary, 1921. [view sheet music] (also available here in Food and Ragtime) Source: Copy provided by a reader [top]
	Boomerang Rag. George Botsford. New York, NY: Jerome H Remick & Co, 1916. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy [top]
	*Borneo Rag: An Oriental Pastime*. Neil Moret (Charles N Daniels). Detroit, MI: Jerome H Remick, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Bunny-Boy: A Ragtime Conceit. Eric C Gatty. New York, NY: Joseph W Stern, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	Buxton Slow Drag: A Snail Serenade. Leonard Lewis. New York: Leo Feist, 1907. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*The Cactus Rag. Lucien Porter Gibson. St Louis, MO: Stark Music Co, 1916. [view sheet music] Source: Ragtime Review* (Vol. 4, no. 2, pages 14-16: February 1918) [top]
	Carnation Rag Two Step. Clyde D. Douglass. St Louis, MO: John Stark & Co, 1903. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*The Cat's Pajamas*. Harry Jentes. New York, NY: Jack Mills, 1922. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy supplied by reader [top]
	*Charcoal: A Study in Black – Characteristic March.* S Gibson Cooke. Boston, MA: GW Setchell, 1903. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy supplied by reader [top]
	*Charcoal Eph*. John Harding. Baltimore, MD: Equitable Pub Co, 1903. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy supplied by reader [top]
	Cheerful Blues. Abe Olman. Chicago, IL: Ted Browne Music Co, 1917. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Cheese and Crackers. Homer Denny. Cincinnati, OH: Denney and Newlin, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy Andrew Barrett [top]
	*Chicken Charlie* by Ashley Ballou. Chicago, IL: W.C. Polla, 1905. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy from a reader [top]
	*Coffee Rag*. Lily Coffee. Houston, TX: WC Munn Company, 1915. [view sheet music] (also available here in Food and Ragtime and here in Women Composers of Ragtime) Source: Copy provided by Michael Chisolm [top]
	*Colonial Rag*. Ernest Ball & Julius Lenzberg. New York: M Witmark & Sons, 1914 [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Dixie Kisses*. E Clinton Keithley. Louisville, KY: Keith Music, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Echoes From Old Kentucky: March, Two-Step and Cake Walk. Mynnie Dillingham. Sydney: Alberts, 1901. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy provided by Peter Persoff [top]
	Fred Heltman's Rag. Fred Heltman. Cleveland, OH: The Fred Heltman Co, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	Golliwog's Cakewalk. Claude Debussy (1908). [view sheet music] (also available here in Cakewalks in the Ragtime Era) Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Happy Cns: Danse Negre***. William Hodgins. London: Wickins & Co, 1906. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy provided by Bob Perry of Australia [top]
	Happy Sam Rag. Oscar Chilton. Chicago, IL: Christensen School, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: Ragtime Review (Vol. 4, no. 2, pages 12-13: February 1918) [top]
	Honeymoon Rag. Abe Olman. Indianapolis, IN: WB Morrison, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy [top]
	Hot House Rag. Paul Pratt. St Louis, MO: Stark Music Company, 1914 [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Icycles: Rag Two-Step. James EC Kelly. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1907. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Jakerloo Jazz. Warren Hasting. London: Francis Day & Hunter, 1919. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	Jazbo: Foxtrot. Arthur Shaw. Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1915. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	*Jazzapation: Fox Trot*. Edward Claypoole. New York, NY: Jerome H Remick, 1920. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Kakuda: One Step*. Felix Arndt. New York, NY: G Ricordi & Co, 1914. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy of sheet music provided by Luigi Ranalli, Italy [top]
	*Kentucky Rosebuds: Cake Walk or One Step*. Arthur Lange. New York: Joe Morris Music, 1915. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy provided by a reader [top]
	Knick Knocks Rag One-Step. Phil Schwartz. Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox Publishing, 1915. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy obtained from eBay [top]
	Lemons And Limes: A Sour Rag. Cora Salisbury. Chicago, IL: Will Rossiter, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy from a reader [top]
	The Lion Tamer Rag. Al Marzian (as "Mark Janza"). Louisville, KY: AF Marzian, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Little Gadabout: Two-Step Intermezzo*. Gustave Colin. London: Hawkes & Son, 1911. [view sheet music] [orchestral parts for clarinet, oboe, cello, violin, and drums] Source: Copy from University of Toronto Music Library [top]
	*Little Sticks O' Licorice: Two-Step Rag*. Ray Ruddy. New York, NY: Jerome H Remick, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Lost Rag*. Herbert Ingraham. New York: Shapiro Music, 1909 [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Marionette*. Felix Arndt. Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox Publishing Co, 1914 [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*The Maurice Tango*. Silvo Hein. New York: TB Harms, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Mignon: Novelette Two Step*. WC Powell. New York, NY: PJ Howley, 1917. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy from University of Toronto Music Library [top]
	*National Rag*. Ethel Schultz. New Orleans, LA: Ethel Schultz, 1907. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy provided by a reader [top]
	*Nervous Rag*. Bernard Fay & Blackford. Detroit, MI: Jerome H Remick, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*New Hippodrome Rag*. Herman Schultz. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1914. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Nicest, Sweetest, Cutest Rag*. Herbert Ingraham. New York: Shapiro Music, 1909 [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Noodles (German Rag)*. Percy Wenrich. Chicago, IL: Arnett-Delonais, 1906. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy [top]
	*Old Si's Fiddle (The Tunes He Used To Play – A Down East Medley)*. Leslie Moore. Troy, NY: Koninsky Music Co, 1905. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*On The Rural Route*. Paul Pratt. St Louis, MO: Stark Music Co, 1917. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy [top]
	*An Operatic Nightmare*. Felix Arndt. Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox Pub Co, 1916. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy [top]
	*Pegasus*. Robert Stirling. New York: Stark Music Co, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Perpetual Rag: March Two Step. BW Castle. Buffalo, NY: Bixby & Castle, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Persian Lamb Rag. Percy Wenrich. Boston, MA: Walter Jacobs, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Piccalili Rag*. Herbert Ingraham. New York: Shapiro Music, 1909 [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Pickinniny Capers. Theron Bennett. Springfield MO: Cornelius J Shea, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	*Polka Dot: March and Two Step Characteristic*. Beth Rudisill. Chicago: Harold Rossiter, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Rag-a-Tag Rag. Al W Brown. New York, NY: Leo Feist, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy obtained from Ebay [top]
	*Rag-Time Intermezzo*. Maxwell Silver. New York: FA Mills, 1900. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy provided by Michael Chisolm [top]
	*Rag Baby Mine*. George Botsford. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Rag Knots: A Cake Walk and Two-Step*. WC Coleman. Galveston, TX: Thos Goggan & Bro, 1899. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy provided by Peter Persoff [top]
	Razzazza Mazzazza: An Extravaganza. Arthur Prior. New York: Carl Fischer, 1906. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Regal Rag*. Lily Coffee. Self-published, 1916. [view sheet music] (also available here in Women Composers of Ragtime) Source: Copy provided by Michael Chisolm [top]
	Rig-A-Ma-Role Rag. Edwin F Kendall. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1910. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Rig-A-Jig Rag*. Nat D Ayer. London: Francis, Day & Hunter, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Saibo: danse caractéristique*. Alcide Giroux. Lowell, MA: EL Turcot, 1916. [view sheet music] Source: Copy provided by a reader [top]
	Ring Tum Diddie: A Boston Rag. Fred Heltman. Cleveland, OH: Popular Music Publishers, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy [top]
	Saronoff Rag. Silvio Hein. New York, NY: TB Harms, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	Satisfied (An Emotional Drag). Bruce Raymond (Theron C Bennett). Pierce City, MO: Bennett Kreyer Music, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	Shock Rag. Elmer Olson. Minneapolis, MN: AW Pinger, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	*Slippery Elm Rag*. Herbert Ingraham. New York: Shapiro Music, 1909 [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Smiles and Chuckles Rag One-Step*. F Henri Klickmann. Chicago, IL: Frank K Root & Co, 1917. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Southern Beauties: Two Step. Carl Beck. St Louis, MO: S Simon, 1906. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Sparkles: High Class Ragtime Two Step. Charles B Ennis. Indianapolis, IN: Warner C Williams & Co, 1909. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Sponge: Two Step. Walter C Simon. New Orleans, LA: WC Simon, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	Sphinx Rag. Leon Carroll. San Francisco, CA: Sphinx Pub Co, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*St Vitus Dance*. Herbert Ingraham. New York: Shapiro Music, 1909 [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy[top]
	*Sunflower Tickle (A Rag)*. Dolly Richmond (pseudonym for Percy Wenrich). Chicago, IL: McKinley Music, 1908. [view sheet music] Source: Personal cop [top]
	Sunshine Capers. Roy Bargy. Cleveland, OH: Sam Fox, 1922. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy provided by Vincent Johnson [top]
	Supper Club. Harry Carroll. New York: Jerome H Remick, 1917. [view sheet music] Source: Personal collection [top]
	Sweet Pickin's Rag. Charley Straight. Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1918. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy provided by Vincent Johnson [top]
	Syncopated Echoes. Elmer Olson. Los Angeles, CA: WA Quincke, 1920. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	Ten Penny Rag: A Driving Hit. Clarence Brandon & Billy Smythe. St Louis, MO: Brandon & Smythe, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	That Eccentric Rag. J Russel Robinson. Indianapolis, IN: J Seidel, 1912. [view sheet music] Source: Indiana Historical Society Digital Images Collection [top]
	That Futuristic Rag. Rube Bloom. New York, NY: Jack Mills, 1923. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Three Black Crows: Cake Walk and Two Ste*p. Raymond Miller. Philadelphia, PA: Welch Wilsky, 1899. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*The Tierney Rag*. Harry A Tierney. London: Francis, Day & Hunter, 1913. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]
	*Twentieth Century March and Two Step*. J Messina. Philadelphia, PA: Morris Music, 1900. [view sheet music] Source: Photocopy from Center for Popular Music [top]
	Whoa! Nellie! George Gould. San Francisco, CA: Sherman, Clay & Co, 1925. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy from a reader [top]
	*Whoa! You Heiffer*. Al Verges. New Orleans, LA: Hakenjos, 1904. [view sheet music] Source: Digital copy from a reader [top]
	Wild-Fire Rag: A Syncopated Rag. Holmes Travis. Chicago, IL: ML Carlson, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Digital scan provided by reader [top]
	*Yankee Doodle* *Rag*. Garfield Wilson. Chicago, IL: Will Rossiter, 1911. [view sheet music] Source: Personal copy [top]

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This site created by Ted Tjaden. Page last updated: January 2022.