Zez Confrey - Romanza, Kitten on the Keys, and MacDowell's To a Wild Rose

Sara Davis Buechner gives an insight into the mind of American novelty ragtime composer Zez Confrey, performing his Romanza from Three Little Oddities, and traces its origins. She also demonstrates one of the greatest novelty ragtime hits of the early twentieth century, Confrey's Kitten on the Keys and performs Edward MacDowell's To a Wild Rose.

[@MauriatOttolink]

Oh! Knowing the Wild Rose well, I took a 2nd, admittedly a somewhat sceptical listen to your performance of Romanza.
Previously, I hadn't heard of your suggestion and at first my scepticism seemed valid until ...BANG ..it hit me..somewhere between the eyes.
Just shows you that even in my late 70s, it's never too late to learn. It revived the lump in my throat for the child, hopefully now a very successful adult.
Thank you for a very tender moment and an addition to my musical awareness.
Life is unpredictable....!

[@MauriatOttolink]

Beautiful playing, Thank you.
I (reeds teacher and pro-jazzer) once had a young, girl pupil clarinetist play To A Wild Rose in a school concert.
I couldn't make the concert but the report came to me that her mother cried in the audience.. She was a problem-child in many other directions. I never knew her outcome.
In memory of the child (must now be an adult) I fought back a deep rooted lump in my throat when you played it. Thank you
Must listen again to your reference to it (Wild Rose) and to Confrey's Romanza...
I must try harder!