May Aufderheide
Encyclopedia
May Frances Aufderheide Kaufman (May 21, 1888 – September 1, 1972) was an American composer of ragtime
music. She was probably the best known among female ragtime composers. She received training in art music
and visited Europe on a grand tour
, yet decided to compose in ragtime.
May Aufderheide was a member of the Indianapolis
ragtime community that included Paul Pratt, Cecil Duane Crabb
, J. Russel Robinson, Will B. Morrison, Julia Lee Niebergall, and Gladys Yelvington. The popularity of her first published rag, "Dusty", convinced her father, Indianapolis loan broker J. H. Aufderheide, to enter the music publishing business.
in 1908, the year her first rag was published and moved to Richmond, Indiana
where her husband was an architect in practice with his father. She stopped publishing early due to family difficulties with an alcoholic husband and a troubled adopted child. The family moved to California in 1947 where they lived in home called "Rose Villa" designed by May's husband on the grounds of the Huntington Sheraton Hotel
in Pasadena. Though she spent the last several years of her life using a wheelchair due to debilitating arthritis, she outlived her husband and daughter, dying in Pasadena, California
, aged 84. She is interred next to her husband in Mountain View Mausoleum in Altadena, California
.
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
music. She was probably the best known among female ragtime composers. She received training in art music
Art music
Art music is an umbrella term used to refer to musical traditions implying advanced structural and theoretical considerations and a written musical tradition...
and visited Europe on a grand tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
, yet decided to compose in ragtime.
May Aufderheide was a member of the Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
ragtime community that included Paul Pratt, Cecil Duane Crabb
Cecil Duane Crabb
Cecil Duane Crabb was an American composer of ragtime music and a member of Indianapolis group of ragtime composers....
, J. Russel Robinson, Will B. Morrison, Julia Lee Niebergall, and Gladys Yelvington. The popularity of her first published rag, "Dusty", convinced her father, Indianapolis loan broker J. H. Aufderheide, to enter the music publishing business.
Songs
She went on to compose and publish "Richmond Rag", "The Thriller", "Buzzer Rag," "Blue Ribbon Rag", "A Totally Different Rag," "Novelty Rag", and "Dusty Rag," plus a number of waltzes and other songs including "I'll Pledge My Heart To You," and a song version of "A Totally Different Rag" with lyrics by Earle C. Jones. Other songs include: "I Want A Patriotic Girl" with Bobby Jones, "I Want A Real Lovin' Man" with Paul Pratt, and "Dusty Rag" with J. Will Callahan.Marriage
She married Thomas M. Kaufman, son of architect William S. KaufmanWilliam S. Kaufman
William S. Kaufman was an American architect known for designing a number of public buildings, primarily in Indiana and Ohio.Kaufman was born in Union County, Indiana to Elias and Mary Kaufman, who were Pennsylvania natives and early Indiana settlers. He attended school in Brownsville, Indiana...
in 1908, the year her first rag was published and moved to Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
where her husband was an architect in practice with his father. She stopped publishing early due to family difficulties with an alcoholic husband and a troubled adopted child. The family moved to California in 1947 where they lived in home called "Rose Villa" designed by May's husband on the grounds of the Huntington Sheraton Hotel
Hotel Wentworth (Pasadena)
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, originally named Hotel Wentworth, is a hotel located at 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106.-History:...
in Pasadena. Though she spent the last several years of her life using a wheelchair due to debilitating arthritis, she outlived her husband and daughter, dying in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, aged 84. She is interred next to her husband in Mountain View Mausoleum in Altadena, California
Altadena, California
Altadena is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States, approximately from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center, and directly north of the city of Pasadena, California...
.