The Importance of Ragtime and Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin-ragtime composer

     Music became a very popular leisure activity in the early 1900’s, mostly for the wealthy class people who could take lessons on piano and other instruments. For the middle and lower class people, resteraunts and other public gathering places were a great place to be entertained by music such as ragtime and jazz. Ragtime was very popular among the black population in America. People from all over got together to play and listen to ragtime because it was upbeat and fun. Ragime brought people together and served as a wonderful source of entertainment!

Cakewalk dance

     Rag is simply when a melody is broken up and changed slightly. This is known as "ragging" and the music that comes from the act of "ragging" is known as "ragged time". This, in turn, became a new genre of music called Ragtime! Ragtime was first introduced to the United States at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. People were creating music similar to the "coon songs" that came from the African American culture. The syncopated (or broken up) beats were well known to the lower class people and were normally found in bars. Ragtime was also associated with the cakewalk which was a fast dance that usually served as a show finale. 

Coon song

     One of the very most famous composers of ragtime music is Scott Joplin. Joplin was born in Texas on November 24, 1868. He was born into a black family and it was very apparent to them, even at a young age, that Scott had a wonderful gift of musical talent. He started off with very low paying jobs that took him wherever he could play piano and earn a bit of cash. He ended up studying Ragtime in school and became a composer and very well known musician. Some of his most famous pieces of music were "The Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer". 

Scott Joplin on piano

     "The Entertainer" followed the common 2/4 pattern with a sixteenth note melody with an underlying eighth note bass line giving it the "rag" feel. "The Maple Leaf Rag" was also written in the same time signature with the upbeat dance-like feel. Both songs were written on piano, which was one of the more commonly learned and performed instruments during the early 19th century. Joplin's music followed every basic characteristic of the ragtime genre, but was unique. The melody lines seem very simple but the pieces as a whole were pretty complex the way beats were broken up and then played at the same time as a melody and counter-melody. 

Modern music 

    Ragtime was not only important as a leisure activity in the early 19th century, but it has evolved into an important part of the American culture today! Ragtime almost morphed into what we now call jazz which influenced many other styles of music that are still listened to today. Music 100 years ago was used for the same purpose that it is used for now-for entertainment and expression. Different cultures and countries adapted many various genres, but music is still used now as a leisure either being played or listened to. Scott Joplin and his ragtime are huge contributors to the music  industry and paved the way for many other artists and their unique styles. 

Ragtime

I decided to do my project on ragtime music and its significance to life in the early 1900's and the influence it has had throughout the past 100 years on the music industry. The main things I will probably touch on in my project are when and how ragtime started and who a few of the main contributors to the industry were. I have found a few book sources on the history of ragtime and how it all got started. I haven't done much internet research because my computer hates me. Hopefully, in the next day or so, I will be ready to start outlining my 5 paragraph project that isn't an essay. I still need a few internet sources and a few primary sources but I have a lot of helpful information already. I am really excited to be learning so much about where popular music came from and how music influenced people a century ago.

Halloween around the World

Halloween is one of the World's oldest holidays. It began in Ireland during the pagan times to celebrate the end of the year. The celebration was called Samhain or "All hallows eve" and it began pretty much like is is today: it was a day of fun where there were people dressing up and eating sweets and enjoying the company of friends and family.But the day was also considered a day where humans and spirits could interact without any limitations. That is hwy the holiday is associated with ghosts and scary things.
Halloween is celebrated all over the world, even in China, Austria, Canada, England, France, Japan, and Korea. But it is celebrated differently in each country. The holiday has become a commercial event to make money and to have some fun.Candy and costumes are found in every neighborhood on October 31 in the United States. Many countries celebrate with a meal or apart to signify the day, others see the day as haunted and are especially cautious on Halloween. But for America, Halloween is nothing more than a way to make money and give kids a chance to have a little fun.

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween
http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/halloweenglobal.php
http://www.halloween-history.org/

Knights of Labor

The Knights of Labor, under the leadership of Terence V. Powderly, was discredited when the strike on the Texas and Pacific railroad was crushed. The power of the Gould system was broken and the Knights shank from 700,000 members to 100,000 members. A few years later, the organization disappeared altogether.

Riot! Railroad Strike of 1877

During the Railroad Strike of 1877, strikers disrupted rail services from Baltimore to St. Louis, destroyed equipment, and rioted in the streets of many cities including Pittsburg.

Labor Issues in the 1870's

Some specific difficulties that Labor faced in the 1870's were widespread unemployment and middle class hostility towards Unions.

America-The melting pot of the world

America can be described as a "nation of immigrants" because so many people living in the country are not originally from here. About 10% of everyone in the United States is an immigrant. The variety of people ranges from people who came from China to people who escaped Germany. Everyone who came to America had one common goal, to begin a new and better life for themselves and their family.

The courage it must have taken for many of these immigrants to pack up everything and leave their home was crazy. These people literally just packed up and left with no idea for the future, hoping that they could make a positive change. For many, this meant leaving behind some family members, a home, and a secure job. But these people were brave and took a chance that probably made their lives so much better, and maybe even saved them. America would not be what it is today without the diversity of people and cultures. Theses people have helped to shape America and given hope to many.

Faces of America

"Faces of America" was a great movie that showed the family history of many famous people in America. Although the cultures and lifestyles of their ancestors were very different, each of them had on thing in common: their loyalty and love for their homeland (America) was so great. None of their families come from the same places, and each individual has a family history of their own. But each of them come together to make up the people of the United States-"the great melting pot".
Anyone who watches this film can take away the importance of family heritage and culture. Everyone's background makes them who they are now and who the future generations will be. Kristi Yamaguchi's family was from Japan. Her grandfather fought for the United States while his wife and children were in a concentration camp. His loyalty to America was ridiculous, but it it made Kristi who she is today and paved a way for her and the rest of her family. People would be amazed of their families past and how important they are to what America is today.

Carnegie and Philanthropy

I found out that when Carnegie retired at age 66 he was a strong believer in the "Gospel of Wealth". He believed that as a citizen of the United States it was his duty to help out those less fortunate living there. In 1902 Carnegie started his own foundation called the Carnegie Institution that funded scientific research. He gave a $10 million dollar donation to establish a pension fund for teachers. Carnegie also believed in bettering yourself through your education and that there was no better way than to read. Over 2,000 public libraries were built from the money he donated to cities all over. By 1911 Carnegie had given away almost 90% of his money to charities and causes to help his country and it's people. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/carnegie/aa_carnegie_phil_1.html