Ragtime is a form of syncopated music that is most commonly played at a fast pace. It was most commonly played around 1885 in St. Louis. Ragtime uses syncopation to put emphasis on beats of the measure that is not the primary beat; also known as the down-beat. It was one of the building points for jazz. In Ragtime music, the measures are put into four “clicks.” In 2/4 time, each click is represented an eighth note; but in 4/4 time, a click is represented by a quarter note. Bass notes, usually played by the left hand on the piano, are mostly played on the first and third clicks of the measure. Chords are played on the second and fourth clicks. This can be referred to as an “Oom Pah Oom Pah pattern.” This is known as duple meter. The “Oom Pah” is …show more content…
It gives a rhythmic kind of excitement and a “catchy hook” for the audience. "The Entertainer" is known as a “Ragtime classic.” It contains brief repetitions, and throughout the piece, the listener can almost recognize the same sounding sections. Also, syncopation help provide the lively “swing” feeling to it. The syncopated beats are clearly heard on the piano and can be felt by the listener.Scott Joplin is a well-known composer of the Ragtime Era. The music that he composed was light and had repeating patterns that put emphasis on off-beats. He was known as “The King of Ragtime.” Scott Joplin was one of the first African Americans to have the title of “composer.” Born in Texarkana, Texas, he began learning how to play the guitar. He also got free piano lessons from his teachers because he showed a lot of progress in the guitar. After the death of his mother, he left his home at the age of fourteen. While traveling through Mississippi and playing in local spots, he learned a lot of form; different approaches to playing the piano. In 1885, he had made his way to St. Louis. At this time, a new music phenomenon called Ragtime started to emerge. His style of ragtime was
The movie is very clever, the plan for the sting is very tricky and surprising to the viewer. Hill shows us most of the plan but leaves out small parts for an ending surprise. Johnny and Henry are very witty and smart, they make us like them from the very beginning and they keep it up until the end. The two con-men meet on behalf of the death of a mutual friend. Before Johnny's friend died he told him of a great man who could teach him to work the big con. The great man is referring to Henry and the big con is something larger that pickpocketing and small tricks. Listening to the music gives you the idea of exactly the type of film it is. The Entertainer is played many times throughout the film and is the perfect song. The song fits the pace of the movie and it shows that it is both fun and serious.
In 1884, Joplin left home and traveled the Midwest for some time as an intinerant pianist playing in saloons and brothels. He settled in St. Louis a few years later and continued his studies. He found employment there in the city's prostitution district playing as a cafe pianist.
Ragtime takes place in New York City, during the 1900’s. This time period is referred to as the Progressive Era. This era was true to its name because many insightful people endeavoured to make the society of the ...
Ragtime started its wide spread after the abolition of slavery in 1865 and during the times of segregation. During those times African Americans did not have access to most employment opportunities and were mostly able to find work in entertainment. “Black musicians were able to provide entertainment in dances, minstrel shows, and in vaudeville, during which time many marching bands were formed. Black pianists played in bars, clubs and brothels, as ragtime
write my research paper on composer Scott Joplin. He was dubbed the “king of Ragtime.” Ragtime is a style of music that is like classical concert music, in it is printed music. I listened to some of Scott Joplin’s pieces and they had a happy upbeat sound. Ragtime is considered piano music, it is a multi-themed music usually grouped as (ABACD). It is Harmonic and has syncopation and tends to be recapitulation. The term “Ragtime” originated from the term “ragged time” which refers to rhythmically broken melodies. The era of Ragtime was from 1896-1917.
Ragtime was preceded by minstrel shows, and adapted many of the same rhythms and swing-feeling to its music (Haskins). “[Ragtime’s] intoxicating compulsion came from within the depths of its symbolic drama: the triumph of freedom over slavery” (Waldo 34). Many stipulate that ragtime is not true jazz because there is little to no forms of improvisation, a hallmark of modern jazz. However, ragtime was extremely influential because music was played using syncopation, which is when notes that are off the beat are emphasized, instead of playing songs like the traditional marches of the time. The song “Michigan Waters,” published by New Orleans native Tony Jackson, is sometimes pointed to as the beginning of ragtime (Haskins). However, Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag,” which uses a form of syncopation, is usually thought of as the beginning of popular ragtime, and many of his later songs set the standard for other ragtime compositions. Ragtime eventually led to more classical pieces, usually played by white orchestras that had the same “ragged” notes that so closely was related to
Jazz is referred as “America’s classical music,” and is one of North America’s and most celebrated genres. The history of Jazz can be traced back to the early era of the 20th century of the U.S. “A History of Jazz” presents From Ragtime and Blues to Big Band and Bebop, jazz has been a part of a proud African American tradition for over 100 years. A strong rhythmic under-structure, blue notes, solos, “call-and response” patterns, and
Robert quit school as a teen and started working in the cotton fields. Robert left that life to travel and play his music. He began to play the guitar around the age of fifteen. Famous blues men; Charlie Patton and Willie Brown influenced Johnson when he was young. At age 17, Robert married Virginia Travis.
Another principle characteristic of Joplin’s rags is his use of chromaticism within melodies, giving it the feeling associated with a carnival or State Fair. This is especially prominent in Joplin’s other most famous work, The Entertainer. According to many critics, The Entertainer was the turning point at which ragtime music was no longer simply considered leisurely saloon music and reached a whole new level of sophistication, that comparable to the classical works of the time period. These chromatic harmonies can be seen in Example b1.
Art Menius said, “The African-American music of the rural south provided the source for gospel, jazz, and blues, while the often ignored black contribution to country music and hillbilly music went far beyond providing the banjo and Charley Pride.” In 1928, A.P. Carter, the patriarch of the legendary Carter Family, the first family of country music, met a blues guitarist by the name of Lesley “Esley” Riddle. Lesley Riddle had created a unique picking and sliding technique on the guitar while he was recovering from an accident on the job. The Carter Family was looking for a new sound of music, and they were so overwhelmed by the sound that Lesley produced, they wanted him to teach them how to play that way. Lesley Riddle influenced Maybelle Carter’s style of guitar playing called the “Carter Scratch,” which became legendary. According to birthplaceofcountrymusic.org, Riddle’s influe...
In the novel Ragtime, many aspects of the American society are explored. The reader gets an understanding of the history and hardships of different social classes, races, and cultures during the last century. A persistent theme established is the existence of the American dream. Doctorow expresses his fascination of the social mobility since it includes the impoverished and underprivileged. However, he highlights that when attempting to reach success, one is required to make sacrifices, negotiating his morality and identity. Tateh and Coalhouse are crucial examples of how the demands, prejudices, and opportunities of the American society can change a man’s mentality.
Ragtime and Blues are different in that they originated from different places. Blues developed in the south. Blues is mainly a vocal music. It was emotional, in that the earliest form was singing and hand clapping. The blues started out with slaves because they would use it to sing about their pain and problems. However, ragtime was popular among many Americans and flourished. The term “ragged time” came to be used to describe its key trait which was syncopation. Ragtime music is tuneful, but it is primarily rhythmic. Whereas a blues song can be sung freely by one person, or a chorus, without a strict rhythm, ragtime is more like a march. The popularity of ragtime flourished at world fairs and was welcomed by many people. Both styles
Langston Hughes was one of the first black men to express the spirit of blues and jazz
Rag time as it is most commonly know was the type of fast paced music played around 1885 in St. Louis. Scott Joplin was born in 1868 and lived until 1917, but has done a lot in his life span. He was one of the first African Americans to be know as a composer. Born in Texarkana, Texas to a large family with musical background, he began learning to play the guitar and beagle, and gained free piano lessons by showing such fast progression to his teachers. After death of his mother, he left the house at age fourteen. He learned much form traveling through Mississippi playing in local spots and learning form what was offered to him. In 1885 he arrived in St. Louis, at the time a center for a new music phenomenon called ragtime.
...s to keep its beautiful array of melody, intensity and control by reminding the audience that it’s still a contemporary and classical piece of work.