Boomerang Rag

George Botsford

ModernSpecialistrhapsodyC majorTempo di Rag2/4~3 min
H4
Henle (estimated)
RCM 5ABRSM 5

About this piece

A classic example of American ragtime literature composed by George Botsford. It is distinguished by its crisp, driving stride-influenced left hand and syncopated right-hand melodic lines.

Teacher notes

The primary challenge is maintaining a steady, metronomic left-hand 'oom-pah' pattern.

Technical focus

alberti-bassleft-hand-independencearticulation

Mood

energeticplayful

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Boomerang Rag

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Browse all Henle level 4 pieces (Intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Boomerang Rag by George Botsford?

Boomerang Rag is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.

What level do I need to play Boomerang Rag?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 4 — meaning you can already play level 3–4 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Boomerang Rag?

A typical performance of Boomerang Rag lasts about 3 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Boomerang Rag?

Boomerang Rag is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Boomerang Rag?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Black and White Rag by George Botsford, Black and White by George Botsford, 12 Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je, Maman" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.