Composed in 1907 and named after the colorful heliotrope flower, it is believed that Louis Chauvin (1881-1908) composed the first two strains while Scott Joplin (1868- 1917) composed the last two. The melody and structure are unusual for a ragtime piece, likely due to the collaborative efforts of the two composers. This compositional split is made evident by the melancholy beginning with an upbeat feeling at the end, resulting in a very unique ragtime piece. While written accounts give high praise to Chauvin as a pianist and composer at the turn of the twentieth century in St. Louis, he left behind no recordings and only a few publications. Chauvin’s health was failing during the compositional process and he passed away in 1908. Scott Joplin, one of the most famous ragtime practitioners, provided the finishing touches to tie the piece together. This arrangement, by Alex Wier (b. 1987) published in 2019, requires a 5.0 octave marimba and includes the suggested mallet voicing above and below each stave when necessary.

For more information about Alex, including his other published works, visit his composer page.