Listen: Ragtime examples
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About Ragtime
Ragtime is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1890s. It is usually classed as a form of popular music, parlour music and music of North America.
Artists closely associated with the genre include Scott Joplin, Al Jolson, Jelly Roll Morton and Mississippi John Hurt.
Ragtime has given rise to 4 subgenres on this site, such as Cakewalk, Novelty piano, Classic rag and Folk ragtime.
From Wikipedia
Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style noted for its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. It originated in African American communities in the late 19th century and was propelled to popularity in the 1890s to 1910s by composers such as James Scott, Joseph Lamb, and particularly Scott Joplin. Known as the "King of Ragtime", Joplin gained fame through compositions like "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer".
The style is closely related to marches. Ragtime pieces (often called "rags") usually contain several distinct themes, often arranged in patterns of repeats and reprises. They are typically composed for and performed on the piano, though the genre has been adapted for a variety of instruments and styles. The music was initially distributed primarily through sheet music and piano rolls.
Genre family tree
Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Ragtime.
- ↑ popular music
- ↑ parlour music
- ↑ music of North America
- ↓ Cakewalk
- ↓ Novelty piano
- ↓ Classic rag
- ↓ Folk ragtime
Key artists
- Scott Joplin
- Al Jolson
- Jelly Roll Morton
- Mississippi John Hurt
Related genres
Questions people ask
Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ragtime?
Ragtime is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1890s. It is usually classed as a form of popular music, parlour music and music of North America.
Where and when did Ragtime originate?
Ragtime originated in United States in the 1890s.
Who are famous Ragtime artists?
Scott Joplin, Al Jolson, Jelly Roll Morton and Mississippi John Hurt.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q185652 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Ragtime – CC BY-SA 4.0
- MusicBrainz genre – CC0
- "12th Street Rag" (1915), by Euday Bowman.mid – Public domain
- Louis Chauvin and Scott Joplin's "Heliotrope Bouquet" (1907), performed by John Robson… – Public domain
- Maple Leaf RagQ by Joplin, Scott, created by William J. Leslie – Public domain