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.