- published: 25 Apr 2014
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Edward Elzear "Zez" Confrey (April 3, 1895 – November 22, 1971) was an American composer and performer of piano music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys," and "Dizzy Fingers."
Confrey was born in Peru, Illinois, United States, the youngest child of Thomas and Margaret Confrey. Wanting to be a concert performer, he attended Chicago Musical College and studied with private teachers. He later abandoned that idea for composing, encouraged by his oldest brother, James J. Confrey (who was an organist). By 1916 he was a staff pianist for Witmarks in Chicago.
After World War I he became a pianist and arranger for the QRS piano roll company. He also recorded for the AMPICO Company, which made piano rolls for their reproducing player piano mechanisms, which were installed in pianos such as the Mason & Hamlin, and Chickering to name a few. His novelty piano composition "Kitten on the Keys" (inspired by a stay at his grandmother's house during which he heard a cat walk on a piano) released in 1921, became a hit, and he went on to compose many other pieces in the same genre. "Dizzy Fingers" (1923) was Confrey's other ragtime biggest seller.
DIZZY FINGERS by Zez Confrey | Cory Hall, pianist-composer
Zez Confrey piano solo: Kitten On The Keys (1921)
Zez Confrey - Kitten on the Keys (audio + sheet music)
The Sheik of Araby - Zez Confrey Piano Roll
"Dizzy Fingers" Composed and Played by Zez Confrey
Dizzy Fingers ~ by Zez Confrey ~ Aaron Robinson, piano
AFRICAN SUITE by Zez Confrey (3 movements) | BachScholar Archives, 2010
Kitten on the Keys by Zez Confrey (newer version) | Cory Hall, pianist-composer
My Pet by Zez Confrey | Cory Hall, pianist-composer
Greenwich Witch by Zez Confrey | Cory Hall, pianist-composer
PIANO LESSONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/learn/ ZEZ CONFREY SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/confrey/ BEST SELLERS: http://www.bachscholar.com/best-sellers/ TECHNICAL STUDIES: http://www.bachscholar.com/technique-pedagogy/ TRANSCRIPTIONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/transcriptions-arrangements/ CORY'S SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/hall/ CORY'S ALBUMS: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/CoryHall
Zez Confrey performs his "Kitten On The Keys" on Edison Re-Creation 50898-L (8226), recorded in New York City on September 21st in 1921. IMPORTANT notice to "The Harry Fox Agency, Inc.":: "United States Copyright Duration for Musical Works: The current duration of copyright protection for published Musical Works in the USA as follows: Works Published Before 1923 Maximum Copyright Protection of 75 years has Expired Works are in the Public Domain" - please RESPECT!
Besides the composer's 1923 ragtime piece "Dizzy Fingers", this 1921 ragtime piece is Zez Confrey's biggest ragtime seller. According to Wikipedia, "this piece was inspired by a cat at his grandmother's house that he discovered prancing up and down the piano keyboard". If you think this is too fast, listen to Confrey's performance of this piece on Wikipedia (type 'zez confrey' on the search box), which is played in a much slower tempo. Please take note that the audio AND the sheet music ARE NOT mine. Change resolution to 480p if the video is blurry.
A classic roll! The Sheik (of Araby) as performed by Zez Confrey (composer of Kitten On The Keys and Dizzy Fingers). Confrey was not only a great composer of novelty piano songs, but he was a prolific arranger as well. QRS Word Roll #1775 Rel. January 1922. Sing along as you watch the words scroll up! Performed on a 1927 Bailey upright player piano.
An original Ampico piano roll from the 1920's, composed and played by Zez Confrey.
Considered to be one of the fastest and most challenging of all "novelty" piano solos, "Dizzy Fingers" was composed in 1923 by the legendary "Zez" Confrey (who also wrote the famous "Kitten on the Keys") ~ this showpiece of virtuosity has been championed by such greats as Benny Goodman, Liberace, Dick Hyman, and now ... world renowned Ragtime pianist, Aaron Robinson. Here is the link for the sheet music on Musicnotes.com ~ http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0070314&
I. High Hattin' (0:04) II. Kinda Careless (2:10) III. Mississippi Shivers (5:17) PIANO LESSONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/learn/ ZEZ CONFREY SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/confrey/ BEST SELLERS: http://www.bachscholar.com/best-sellers/ TECHNICAL STUDIES: http://www.bachscholar.com/technique-pedagogy/ TRANSCRIPTIONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/transcriptions-arrangements/ CORY'S SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/hall/ CORY'S ALBUMS: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/CoryHall
PIANO LESSONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/learn/ ZEZ CONFREY SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/confrey/ BEST SELLERS: http://www.bachscholar.com/best-sellers/ TECHNICAL STUDIES: http://www.bachscholar.com/technique-pedagogy/ TRANSCRIPTIONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/transcriptions-arrangements/ CORY'S SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/hall/ CORY'S ALBUMS: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/CoryHall
PIANO LESSONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/learn/ ZEZ CONFREY SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/confrey/ BEST SELLERS: http://www.bachscholar.com/best-sellers/ TECHNICAL STUDIES: http://www.bachscholar.com/technique-pedagogy/ TRANSCRIPTIONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/transcriptions-arrangements/ CORY'S SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/hall/ CORY'S ALBUMS: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/CoryHall
PIANO LESSONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/learn/ ZEZ CONFREY SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/confrey/ BEST SELLERS: http://www.bachscholar.com/best-sellers/ TECHNICAL STUDIES: http://www.bachscholar.com/technique-pedagogy/ TRANSCRIPTIONS: http://www.bachscholar.com/transcriptions-arrangements/ CORY'S SHEETS: http://www.bachscholar.com/hall/ CORY'S ALBUMS: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/CoryHall