I suddenly felt like uploading something, so I picked out something that's been lying around for a while in my folder that I call "extras". These are songs that I like quite a bit and intend to share at some point, but that I probably don't want to use as my 'official' gallery addition for the month, for one reason or another. Usually it's because the song is really short, or an instrumental. In this case, it's both. And a cover, to boot.

The song in question is called "Elegie", and it was written by a man by the name of J. Beach Cragun (1885 - 1927). It was recorded for a college class that I took back in 1991 (the same class for which "Song For An Airport" was recorded). The class was presented with three short classical pieces, and each student had to choose one and record a new version of it. "Elegie" was, if I remember correctly, written for a clarinet quartet. I wanted to do something drastically different with it, so I played with the arrangement, replacing the clarinets with piano and synth sounds. I also decided to add a drum track, just because I knew that it would probably set my piece apart from those of my classmates.

You can't tell, but the picture that I used for the thumbnail is of Mr. Cragun himself, with one of his classes at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. There is a caption that reads "The University High School Glee Club and Orchestra - J. Beach Cragun, Conductor - April 11, 1922". That same year he founded the Cragun School of Music, also in Chicago. Only five years later, he would die of cancer at the relatively young age of 41. He was buried in his hometown of Kingman, Kansas, in a cemetery that his own father had helped plan.

Sometimes when I listen to this I wonder what Mr. Cragun would think of what I've done with (to? lol) his song. I hope he's not spinning in that grave out there in Kingman.

As always, thanks for listening.


"Elegie" (0:49)
Written by J. Beach Cragun
Arranged by Kiffa Kitmouse
Recorded February 12, 1991