Grade 2-Cleaning Day Rag

Question 1

Who is the compser?

Answer 1

Ian Ladd is an Australian composer. He was born in Geelong, Victoria.
His compositions, which are mostly in a popular or blues style, include two volumes of Piano grooves

Question 2

What is the meaning of the title?

Answer 2

A rag is a type of jazz music. Rags usually have syncopated rhythms in the right hand (such as long notes or accents on weak beats, or ties across strong beats)
The title is a play on words, since rag has two meanings - a type of music, and an old cloth for cleaning

Question 3

What does the time signature mean?

Answer 3

The time signature means FOUR CROTCHET BEATS in a bar (simple quadruple time)

Question 4

What do the numbers of the time signature mean?

Answer 4

The top number of the time signature indicates that there are four beats in a bar. The bottom number shows that the value of each beat is a crotchet

Question 5

What is the key of this piece?

Answer 5

The key of this piece is G Major. The key signature contains one sharp (F#)

Other sharps or flats are sometimes added to make the music sound more jazzy, without changing the key. There is a passing hint of D major in bars 15-16, but no modulation

Question 6

What form is this piece in?

Answer 6

Cleaning day rag is in ternary (ABA) form, and contains three main sections
Section A (bars 1-8) 
Section B (bars 9-16)
Section A (bars 17-24)

Question 7

What is allegreto?

Answer 7

Allegreto means moderately fast

Question 8

What is ritard.?

Answer 8

Ritard. (ritardando) means gradually becoming slower

Question 9

What is a fermenta?

Answer 9

A fermenta means hold for longer than the written value

Question 10

What does ‘a tempo’ mean?

Answer 10

It means return to the former speed

Question 11

What does ‘poco riten’ mean?

Answer 11

poco riten (rintenuto) means hold back the speed a little
(i.e. immediately a little slower)