"Bloomer march," by M. Florence. New York: T.B. Harms & Co., 1895.
In Washington, meteorological spring came in like a lamb. In the Muse would like to take this fair-weather opportunity to revisit last week’s bicycle theme with M. Florence’s “Bloomer March,” which if the illustration is to be believed, conveys the fin de siècle pleasures of riding a bicycle while dressed in bloomers. Florence dedicates the piece, arranged for solo piano, to “The Cycling Women of America.” The musically inclined bicyclist of 1895 could not safely perform or even listen to the piece while cycling. But today’s two-wheel enthusiasts are welcome to perform and record this public-domain composition and play it on their mp3 player as they navigate the city by bike.