J.S. Zamecnik’s Polly a noveltypiano solo was published in 1926. A lively movement it need to be played in a swing style. The novelty pianists were unique musicians and performers generally possessing great keyboard technique and frequently were well trained musicians. They were attracted to playing music in the popular popular music style pretty much established by Scott Joplin and others in the ragtime era. Whilst the realisation plays back at 66 half note or minim beats to the minute the movement can and is often played much faster. In the video score some of the score detail has been hidden because graphics behave inconsistently in this format. The conventions used in the notation of swing music are confusing but it is communicating the swing style element that is important. The triplet pattern is the key rhythmic element. Novelty pieces were generally composed in American March form. Where novelty pianists and composers are particularly inventive is in their choices of rhythmic shapes and the clarity in the harmonic journey and direction of their music. John Stepan Zamecnik had a successful career as a composer of music for film or more accurately silent films commonly referred to as photoplay music. As a composer he frequently used pseudonms, Whilst American by birth he studied music in Prague with Dvorak in the mid 1890's. Much of his working life was spent in the city of Cleveland.
