![Nola (1915) by Felix Arndt [PIANO SOLO by Peter Van Spall] @GLepRagtimeChronicle](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d_4aJ36cLl4/sddefault.jpg)
Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On a rare record label called Pyramid Records, pianist Peter Van Spall gives an excellent rendition of Felix Arndt's smash hit, Nola. The first song to be considered novelty piano, a more jazzy, "sophisticated" version of ragtime. This was recorded at an unknown date in the early 1950s, during the 50s Ragtime Revival.
Flip side to this record: youtu.be/f2ujYldRy-Y?si=WCTPD3tnUSWZZIUV
Felix Arndt, a relative to French Emperor Napoleon III, was the father of novelty piano. His song 'Nola' from 1915 is regarded as the very example of this genre. But aside from that, he was no stranger to one steps, fox trots, waltzes, and popular songs. 'Clover Club', 'Toots', and 'Marionette' are examples of these. But you can't forget his ragtime arrangements of classical medleys, 'Desecration Rag' and 'Operatic Nightmare.' Unlike most ragtime composers of the era, he recorded piano solos of most of his songs and others, as well as piano rolls. I find these to be very valuable to the ragtime community.
Felix Arndt died young before the novelty era formally arrived, at the height of his career. He contracted the infamous Spanish Influenza and died in 1918 at the age of 29.
More Felix Arndt: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLMkuz4vEFoMGlLb94xnPjmcULthr04AI&si=gXyys7p0BddriV0g
Felix Arndt piano and celeste recordings:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbGAQvbfY3Z2evd3Ws5JDn_CrgrohpzDQ&si=6CIyJp5Mqs_cRabz
On a rare record label called Pyramid Records, pianist Peter Van Spall gives an excellent rendition of Felix Arndt's smash hit, Nola. The first song to be considered novelty piano, a more jazzy, "sophisticated" version of ragtime. This was recorded at an unknown date in the early 1950s, during the 50s Ragtime Revival.
Flip side to this record: youtu.be/f2ujYldRy-Y?si=WCTPD3tnUSWZZIUV
Felix Arndt, a relative to French Emperor Napoleon III, was the father of novelty piano. His song 'Nola' from 1915 is regarded as the very example of this genre. But aside from that, he was no stranger to one steps, fox trots, waltzes, and popular songs. 'Clover Club', 'Toots', and 'Marionette' are examples of these. But you can't forget his ragtime arrangements of classical medleys, 'Desecration Rag' and 'Operatic Nightmare.' Unlike most ragtime composers of the era, he recorded piano solos of most of his songs and others, as well as piano rolls. I find these to be very valuable to the ragtime community.
Felix Arndt died young before the novelty era formally arrived, at the height of his career. He contracted the infamous Spanish Influenza and died in 1918 at the age of 29.
More Felix Arndt: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLMkuz4vEFoMGlLb94xnPjmcULthr04AI&si=gXyys7p0BddriV0g
Felix Arndt piano and celeste recordings:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbGAQvbfY3Z2evd3Ws5JDn_CrgrohpzDQ&si=6CIyJp5Mqs_cRabz
![Nola (1915) by Felix Arndt [PIANO SOLO by Peter Van Spall]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d_4aJ36cLl4/mqdefault.jpg "Nola (1915) by Felix Arndt [PIANO SOLO by Peter Van Spall]
On a rare record label called Pyramid Records, pianist Peter Van Spall gives an excellent rendition of Felix Arndts smash hit, Nola. The first song to be considered novelty piano, a more jazzy, sophisticated version of ragtime. This was recorded at an unknown date in the early 1950s, during the 50s Ragtime Revival.
Flip side to this record: https://youtu.be/f2ujYldRy-Y?si=WCTPD3tnUSWZZIUV
Felix Arndt, a relative to French Emperor Napoleon III, was the father of novelty piano. His song Nola from 1915 is regarded as the very example of this genre. But aside from that, he was no stranger to one steps, fox trots, waltzes, and popular songs. Clover Club, Toots, and Marionette are examples of these. But you cant forget his ragtime arrangements of classical medleys, Desecration Rag and Operatic Nightmare. Unlike most ragtime composers of the era, he recorded piano solos of most of his songs and others, as well as piano rolls. I find these to be very valuable to the ragtime community.
Felix Arndt died young before the novelty era formally arrived, at the height of his career. He contracted the infamous Spanish Influenza and died in 1918 at the age of 29.
More Felix Arndt: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLMkuz4vEFoMGlLb94xnPjmcULthr04AI&si=gXyys7p0BddriV0g
Felix Arndt piano and celeste recordings:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbGAQvbfY3Z2evd3Ws5JDn_CrgrohpzDQ&si=6CIyJp5Mqs_cRabz")
![🇵🇱 Polish Piano Polka 🇵🇱 (1953) by Eddy Hanson [Played by Lawrence Duchow & His Orchestra]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e9STLqDw8PQ/mqdefault.jpg "🇵🇱 Polish Piano Polka 🇵🇱 (1953) by Eddy Hanson [Played by Lawrence Duchow & His Orchestra]
#poland #polka #78rpm
By the composer of Rattlesnake Rag.
Though titularly deceivingly, there is no piano to be found in this recording. Instead, it is played on accordion and accompanied by an orchestra.
In 1953, the Polish Peoples Republic was headed by Chairman Aleksander Zawadzki of the State Council.
Ethwell Eddy Hanson had a remarkably long career, beginning in 1911, and continuing until retirement in 1973. His Rattlesnake Rag (1917) is what is he known for today in the ragtime community, especially thanks to its 1952 recording by Lou Busch (Joe Fingers Carr). But his Windy City Polka (1947) and Only a Weaver of Dreams (1924) were also well received. But what eclipses all of that was The Wisconsin Waltz (1951), which became the state anthem of Wisconsin in 2001.
More Eddy Hanson:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLMkuz4vEFoNdrzTmk5RFjNvoLnNkj-oS&si=a8hcClOnpU556Jsw")
![Calico Rag (1914) by Nat Johnson [Xylophone Solo by Andrew Setaro, 1917]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f1m9sKg6J_M/mqdefault.jpg "Calico Rag (1914) by Nat Johnson [Xylophone Solo by Andrew Setaro, 1917]
Calico Rag is in pure classic rag style, and sounds like something James Scott or Charles L. Johnson would have wrote. But it was actually Nat Johnson, a relatively obscure figure in the ragtime community to write it.
More ragtime songs about cats: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLMkuz4vEFoNTqY2NJRt0g1HwOKnFvnzO&si=rJxMZZ0GTMSQEaiP")
![From Soup to Nuts (1914) by Felix Arndt [PIANO SOLO by Peter Van Spall]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f2ujYldRy-Y/mqdefault.jpg "From Soup to Nuts (1914) by Felix Arndt [PIANO SOLO by Peter Van Spall]
On a rare record label called Pyramid Records, pianist Peter Van Spall gives an excellent rendition of Felix Arndts From Soup to Nuts, a ragtime turkey trot/one step from 1914. It sticks pretty closely to the original sheet music, while also giving some creative improvisations throughout. This was recorded at an unknown date in the early 1950s, during the 50s Ragtime Revival.
Flip side of this record: https://youtu.be/d_4aJ36cLl4?si=NsQv8R3ZwNXvZnKA
Felix Arndt, a relative to French Emperor Napoleon III, was the father of novelty piano. His song Nola from 1915 is regarded as the very example of this genre. But aside from that, he was no stranger to one steps, fox trots, waltzes, and popular songs. Clover Club, Toots, and Marionette are examples of these. But you cant forget his ragtime arrangements of classical medleys, Desecration Rag and Operatic Nightmare. Unlike most ragtime composers of the era, he recorded piano solos of most of his songs and others, as well as piano rolls. I find these to be very valuable to the ragtime community.
Felix Arndt died young before the novelty era formally arrived, at the height of his career. He contracted the infamous Spanish Influenza and died in 1918 at the age of 29.
More Felix Arndt: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLMkuz4vEFoMGlLb94xnPjmcULthr04AI&si=gXyys7p0BddriV0g
Felix Arndt piano and celeste recordings:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbGAQvbfY3Z2evd3Ws5JDn_CrgrohpzDQ&si=6CIyJp5Mqs_cRabz")
![If You Were Mine (1908) by Kerry Mills [Sung by the Columbia Quartette]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fN7mm0y5DHM/mqdefault.jpg "If You Were Mine (1908) by Kerry Mills [Sung by the Columbia Quartette]
If You Were Mine (1908) by Kerry Mills [Sung by the Columbia Quartette]")
![Christmas Novena [Novena di Natale] (1916) - Reverend Francis Auriemma](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fka2VdhOhEA/mqdefault.jpg "Christmas Novena [Novena di Natale] (1916) - Reverend Francis Auriemma
An Italian Christmas record sung by a priest.
This obscure song, written by Luigi Tutela, refers to the Novena, a series of prayers to be said in the nine days before Christmas.
#christmas #78rpm #italy
Subscribe and stay tuned- there are many Yuletide records to come!
My official Christmas playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbGAQvbfY3Z2RNfPuflYhA7JazcbYeUsO&si=OYGdwR6eCkfwyIrt")
![👻The Phantom Brigade👻(1908) by W.H. Myddleton [Played by Princes Orchestra]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fw2N6L9laxM/mqdefault.jpg "👻The Phantom Brigade👻(1908) by W.H. Myddleton [Played by Princes Orchestra]
Recorded around 1908-1910.
Princes Orchestra was an offshoot of Princes Band, one of the best brass bands of the era. They are best known today for their 1915 recording of St. Louis Blues. I highly recommend that you check it out.
My Official Halloween Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbGAQvbfY3Z16cs9lZ1jh9sM0xZI0_jRV&si=0FsnhmRDsaYopqtE")
