Dance Descriptive

Ghosts (and Other Spooky Beings) of the Female Persuasion

Cora Salisbury

Sue Ruby (Editor)

Only six of Cora’s ragtime compositions are known to have survived. Most were published under the name “C. Folsom Salisbury”. The “Dance Descriptive” Ghost Dance was published in 1911 by Will Rossiter in Chicago. The piece was subtitled “A Dainty Novelette”.

Chromatic scales played with predominantly 8th note rhythms.

8th Note Chromatic Scales

A time signature where the fundamental beat is subdivided in groupings of three instead of two.

Compound Time Signature

Ornamentations that are notated in a smaller size than normal notes and played slightly before them.

Grace Notes

A trembling effect that is achieved by playing rapidly repeating notes in succession. 

Tremolo

A ragtime left hand pattern that regularly uses skills like small shifts, extensions, and multiple voices, but does not have leaps greater than an octave.

Intermediate Ragtime Accompaniment

A type texture that occurs when the contour, distance, and speed of the notes in one hand matches that of the other hand as they play together.

Parallel Motion

A type of articulation indicating the player to play short and light; notes not held for their full value.

Staccato

Notes whose lengths are equal to one-eighth the value of a whole note or half the value of a quarter note.