Searching for an Identity
Arnhem: Ragtime for the Relaxing Soul, Op.2 No.2
SM-000067778
- Alternative title
- Arnhem: Ragtime voor de Ontspannende
- Composer
- Antonio Martinez
- Publisher
- Antonio Martinez
- Genre
-
Jazz / Ragtime
- Instrumentation
- Piano
- Scored for
- Solo
- Type of score
- For a single performer
- Duration
- 4'11"
- Difficulty
- Very difficult
- Year of composition
- 2011
Description
This melody is the second destination in the collection of the series "Ragtime at the Red Light District." This rag occurs at Arnhem's Spijkerkwartier.
The main character in this piece is a 27-year old history major that is studying abroad for the spring semester in the Netherlands. This main character has a particular affinity for studying the history of the Netherlands, particularly when it comes to the nation and its involvement in wars. During the early portion of the semester, the main character often visited many of Arnhem's famous sites while also admiring the city's renowned architecture. Among notable sites included the Papendal Centre, critical points of interest during the Battle of Arnhem, and the city's famous bridges, notably Sakharov Bridge.
When not studying history, the main character found interest in meeting new people as the person happened to watch a World Cup qualifier at Gelredome. Then something suddenly hit the main character. For all the work and the time the main character spent in Arnhem, boredom entered the main character's psyche as the spring semester approached its climax.
This incident was when the main character began on an arduous power walk across the city and into a place where relaxation can sink in without sacrificing schoolwork. That came at Spijkerkwartier, where a revival of the red-light district has seen numerous women inject new life into the area. The main character had finally found an oasis to relax and even conjure up exciting fantasies to ponder heading back from studying so much.
This piece has a format of 4AABBACCDAEE. Scott Joplin's "Kismet Rag" and "Maple Leaf Rag" were the basis for this piece. Furthermore, there is also an influence from Cyndi Lauper and Robert Hyman's "Time After Time" toward the final strain of the section.