Nola by Felix Arndt dates from 1915. It is frequently referred to as the first novelty piano piece, a musical idiom emerging from the #ragtime era. Light and breezy in character this is a style of music very much intended to lift the mood and spirit. Nola needs to be played in a swing style simply meaning that the triplet figuration prevails. Arndt was a New York based composer and pianist who died during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1919. Sections need to be played at the same tempo and there is little opportunity for slowing down at the end of phrases and sections. Some of the score detail, particularly phrase markings have been hidden in the sheetmusic video score simply because the associated graphics behave inconsistently in this format. This is music that moves along quickly but also needs to played in a completely relaxed manner. Tension in the fingers, hands and arms is something to be avoided and this can be partly achieved by keeping a lightness in the hands and arms and secure fingering. Fingers need to be close to the keys. Nola is brimming with musical ideas and inventiveness and is a very “modern” sounding work for 1915. As a musical snapshot of its time it references the ragtime era of its near past and points to the future in its swing jazz style triplet rhythms. The left hand playing style of the bass and chords owes its origins to the ragtime era. Contrasting and repeating sections are in evidence whilst the formal pattern of the music is A B A C D C A with an 8 bar coda at the end. The composer does not make use of repeat signs. The key plan can be summarised as D – D minor – D – G - D Novelty piano music has a strong connection with ragtime particularly in its formal patterns and shapes. Whilst the repetitive element is strong the composer does not make use of repeat signs.
