On the Highwire: Piano Rags, Waltzes, and Tangos by Donald Ashwander

Donald Ashwander (1929-1994) was one of the leading composers of ragtime in the second half of the twentieth century. Says Max Morath: "[This] album is significant to the history of ragtime. It highlights how Donald Ashwander's music and melodies brought great beauty to the ragtime genre. And while many modern rags of Ashwander's time were musically complex and demanding, Donald focused on beauty and eloquence in all of his compositions. His work was an amalgam of the classical and theatrical musical worlds." On the Highwire is a collection of 16 of Ashwander's best solo piano compositions, masterfully played by Matthew de Lacey Davidson. Originally released on the Capstone label in 2000 (and long out of print), these recordings have been lovingly remastered by renowned engineer Doug Benson for superb sound and supplemented with a new 40-page booklet containing a personal remembrance of Ashwander by the pianist as well as Ashwander's own original commentary on the selections. 16 tracks. 65 minutes. Rivermont catalogue number: BSW-3139 Formats available: Audio CD Apple Lossless (digital download / no physical product) MP3 (digital download / no physical product) If you are purchasing a digital download and you do not know whether your playback device is compatible with Apple Lossless, we recommend the universally-compatible MP3 format. All digital downloads include a PDF digital booklet containing all of the text and images found in the physical CD booklet. If you select Apple Lossless or MP3, you will receive a download link by e-mail upon completion of checkout; no physical product will be mailed to you. Track list: 1. On the Highwire 2. Forgotten Ballrooms 3. Perdido Bay Moon Rag 4. Mobile Carnival Rag-Tango 5. Voodoo Queen 6. Waterloo Rag 7. Sunday Night, Manhattan 8. Empty Porches 9. Friday Night 10. Astor Place Rag-Waltz 11. The Brooklyn Stop and Start 12. Old Streets 13. Business in Town 14. Evanescence 15. We Danced 16. Peacock Colors