Englishman Cecil Macklin was primarily an arranger of dance music for military bands, but at least one number composed by his own volition proved of enormous importance to the development of American popular music—Très Moutarde, a one- or two-step better known as Too Much Mustard. Although technically a march and not at all syncopated in its original form, the tune's liveliness and high-kicking spirits lent itself to the loose elaboration practiced by ragtime bands and it was widely adopted in the States. Most significantly, Clef Club bandleader James Reese Europe recognized the special qualities of Too Much Mustard and employed it in the routine performed by pre-war dancing duo Vernon and Irene Castle. Europe first recorded Too Much Mustard in December 1913 for Victor; a version by Charles A. Prince's Band followed in 1914 and these proved the first among many recordings to follow.

Among valuable latter-day recordings of Très Moutarde is one captured by Samuel Charters in 1958 when he recorded veteran New Orleans pianist H.J. Boiusseau. Boiusseau re-created how New Orleans pianists played the piece early in the twentieth century; not far off the original sheet music and only a touch syncopated. Although Très Moutarde remains popular among ragtime buffs, probably hardly any of them are aware that the piece is English in origin.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , Rovi