Tonight I am undecided.
Should I do nothing for the site and rest? (Noooooo!!!!!!!!, protests PianoExpert). Should I tell you about another composer? (Nooooo!!!!!, demand the members)
Alright, I will talk to you again about things that I like (as always), but this time I am talking about a genre that marked an entire generation and perhaps more.
Yes indeed, tonight I am talking to you about RAGTIME.
The name itself is a program: in fact, it means "ragged time" and, if we analyze it, we see that it is quite apt. Yes, because a characteristic of Ragtime rhythm is that the left hand performs a uniform and regular accompaniment (almost always), while the right hand performs a syncopated scanning, which justifies its name.
It reminds me of when I was little and I used to have fun walking with one foot on the sidewalk and the other in the street and - regularly - skipping a step with my right foot.
As far as structure is concerned, generally four Strains (our themes) follow one another, accompanied by key changes and with different types of occurrence: the most common is AABBACCDD, but there are others.
A piece that well illustrates what I have just told you is indeed Maple Leaf Rag, for which I am publishing a score produced within the Mutopia project, which I will tell you about another time.
Returning to our subject, Ragtime originated from a collection of Black folkloric components - almost all revitalized by city Brass Bands - developing at the beginning of the 20th century in Missouri, especially in Sedalia and Saint Louis. Especially this city, a cosmopolitan port on the Mississippi and a forge of new experiences, was fertile with contributions and from it Ragtime then spread quickly through the country, rapidly achieving enormous success.
Among the greats of the genre, besides the celebrated Scott Joplin, we remember Thomas Turpin, author of the first published Ragtime, James Scott, and Joseph Lamb. The great pianists, such as Jelly Roll Morton and Thomas "Fats" Waller, were also decisive. The genre was dominated by the piano, but there were no lack of examples of other instruments or instrumental ensembles. Shortly thereafter, thanks also to its seed, Jazz would be born, which would overshadow Ragtime and relegate it to a glorious corner.
For now I bid you farewell, leaving you to listen once more to a Piano Roll - recorded by the same author - but I will soon return to talk about Joplin and his group of Ragtimers.
