Capricious Harlem for Piano (Version by William Bolcom)

Version by William Bolcom (approved by Eubie Blake)

Capricious Harlem, from the mid-thirties of the last century, fits into the genre of American salon pieces, like Signorelli's Park Avenue Fantasy, or de Rose's Deep Purple, which were popular at that time. Eubie Blake wrote it out in a much simpler version than he actually played it, and my version is largely a reflection of his own performance. Eubie always said it was incumbent on a musician to make his own version of a piece like Capricious Harlem - not just to play 'THE notes', as he always said - but I added extremely little to his own version, and when I played it for him he heartily approved: 'It's your piece now, kid!' I dedicate my transcription of Capricious Harlem to his memory." (William Bolcom)

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