La Negra - Arrangement of the mexic. Traditionals by William Cahn (Nexus) for Xylo-Solo (advanced) and 2 Marimbas (4 players, intermediate) - all with 2 mallets
From the first NEXUS "Ragtime" album, Bill Cahn has established himself as not only a great arranger and performer of "Xylophone Novelty Music", but also as the world's foremost duck call virtuoso. His compositions can be programmed on recitals or percussion ensemble concerts, featuring students or the instructor as soloist. Most are arranged to be performed by the same instrumentation as the G. H. Green arrangements: four players performing on a minimum of two marimbas.
The Gray Fox Rag for Mallet Ensemble (5 Players) - 4 Min.; Ragtime for Solo-Xylo + 4 Marimba-Players (can be played on 2 Marimbas); 2 mallets; intermediate
Gray Fox Rag adds Ryan's own flavor to the genre of ragtime. However; like the gray fox itself, the piece is not what it seems. The piece explores some odd phrases of seven bars as well as a total of five different tonic areas, much more than the ragtime standard of two. This piece also begins and concludes in a minor key which is also unusual for its ragtime counterparts. Just like the piece, a gray fox is also not what it seems like either. A gray fox boasts a mostly red coat of fur despite its name suggesting otherwise. Seeing the similarities of the two, I decided to name one contradiction after the other: the Gray Fox Rag.
Summer Shuffle for Xylo Solo and Marimba Quartet - 2 Min.; Swing-Title for Xylo and 4 Marimbas, each 2 mallets; intermediate; optional Percussion and String Bass
An original rag arranged for solo xylophone, 4 marimba parts and optional string bass and percussion parts. Summer Shuffle is also contained in Ryan’s book - Ragtime Solos for Xylophone with piano accompaniment also available from Per-Mus. Marimba parts will fit two per instrument. See video above.