“It’s never right to play Ragtime fast.”<br>
(Scott Joplin)<br>
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Most listeners associate “ragtime” with the music of Scott Joplin, one of the earliest African-American composers to straddle the divide between classical and popular music. It was Joplin who brought this musical style to the pinnacle of perfection.<bR>
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The term “ragtime” stems from “ragged time” and describes the contrast between the sprightly syncopated melodies in the right hand and the accentuated “oom-pah” bass in the left. This collection offers deeper insight into Joplin’s art, a combination of folk music, African rhythms and classical piano music. Jean Kleeb has simplified the works and added fingering.<br>