Animal Cracker Rag by Brian Slawson

Animal Cracker Rag is a perfect solo for a young, outgoing, and potentially crazy performer looking for an opportunity to schowcase their talent and sense of humor. This piece harks back to music from the 1910’s and 20’s, where polka and ragtime were the dominant musical styles. As composer Brian Slawson puts it in his own words, “written with a tip of the hat to Russian composers Dmitri Kabalevsky and Aram Khachaturian, Animal Cracker Rag is the kind of campy, two-beat fare often heard at circuses.” This piece also includes an optional piano accompaniment geared toward percussionists who are looking to gain some experience on the instrument.