Alex Hassan

Alex is President and one of the original member/performers of the Northern Virginia Ragtime Society, amongst his other musical activities. He is considered one of the leading authorities on 1920s/30s Novelty Piano.

Background on Alex Hassan

Alex Hassan is a Northern Virginian pianist thoroughly immersed in the musical styles and arrangements of the 20s and 30s. Utilizing the resources of over 1600 syncopated piano solo 78s, a comprehensive sheet music collection, fairly broad classical training, and an intense love of this nebulous, somewhere between classical and jazz, idiom, Alex recreates the spirited and glorious melodies of the Golden Age of popular music.

Amongst the highlights of his musical career, Alex counts performances at the Smithsonian, Scott Joplin Festival (Sedalia, MO), Stanford University, Pizza-On-The-Park (London), Player's Club (Manhattan--a party for the Gershwin family), Toronto's McMichael art gallery, Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, Indianapolis Ragtime Festival, West Coast Ragtime Festival (Sacramento), Steinway Gallery (St. Louis), Friends of Operetta (Brentwood, Los Angeles) and 3 straight years at the El Segundo Ragfest (Los Angeles).
Since 1991, Alex has given 5 solo recitals for the two Billy Mayerl societies of England, recorded extensively at the BBC and one of the Mayerl concert venues. Alex is the regular pianist with Washington's Interact Theatre Co., having performed extensive runs of original shows, spotlighting the music of Ivor Novello and comedy/music of Joyce Grenfell--shows nominated for various local "Helen Hayes" awards. He has made both piano roll and piano diskette (Pianomation) recordings for Buffalo's QRS Piano Roll Co., and has recorded a number of CDs.

For further information about Alex and for information about his CDs, click here for his website.

Alex Hassan's Live-Played Ragtime MIDIs

Alex recorded some performances on a digital keyboard, so that Cyber-syncopaters can hear his playing via MIDI.
All these files were made on a single-take, with no editing performed on the files.

The Maple Leaf Hora - from a Scott Joplin tune: Alex's unique variation of a familiar rag. Often referred to as his "Minor Key Maple Leaf".
Pork and Beans - Luckey Roberts (1913): Alex adds some nice embellishments to this classic ragtime piece.
Chevy Chase - Eubie Blake (1914): With some very nice rhythmic interpretations.