| Time |
|
Track |
|
Description |
Disc 1 [53:31] |
|
| 2:13 | |
01 | |
Please Say You Will
(1895) In 1895 Scott Joplin and his Texas Medley
Quartette toured as far east as syracuse, N.Y. where he sold his first
song, a sentimental ballad. |
| 2:51 | |
02 | |
A Picture Of Her Face
(1895) The second song which Joplin sold in Syracuse
was also from the repertoire of his Texas Medley Quartette. |
| 3:21 | |
03 | |
The Great Crush Collision March
(1896) William George Crush was the general passenger
agent with the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. In 1896 near
Waco, Texas he staged a spectacular head-on collision between two
trains as a publicity stunt. |
| 6:06 | |
04 | |
Harmony Club Waltz
(1896) Except for a harmonically unusual introduction
and a lightly syncopated fifth strain, this piece is typical of many
waltzes of the day. |
| 3:16 | |
05 | |
Combination March
(1896) The 3rd of Joplin's instrumentals published in
Temple, TX contains more folksy melodies. |
| 5:00 | |
06 | |
Original Rags
(1899) Some of the themes in Joplin's first published
rag could have been composed long before 1899. |
| 3:11 | |
07 | |
Maple Leaf Rag
(1899) Joplin reportedly was playing at least part of
the "Maple Leaf Rag" in 1894. He continued selling rags into the
early Twenties. "Maple Leaf" earned Joplin the title of "King of the
Ragtime Composers" and it remains at the undisputed king of all rags. |
| 3:29 | |
08 | |
Swipesy - Cake Walk
(1900) A Sedaila collaborative work with Arthur
Marshall, Swipesy's melodies and structure are more tyical of a rag
than a cakewalk. |
| 4:13 | |
09 | |
Sunflower Slow Drag
(1901) This is a collaboration of Joplin and Scott
Hayden, a talented Sedalia youth fourteen years younger than Joplin
who was also an accomplished ragtime pianist and singer. |
| 3:37 | |
10 | |
Peachtree Rag
(1901) This early haunting rag reflectes the increased
melodic flow development in Joplin's works. |
| 4:45 | |
11 | |
Augustan Club Waltz
(1901) Dedicated to the Augustan Club of Sedalia, this
waltz was typical of many similar light piano works of the era. |
| 4:00 | |
12 | |
The Easy Winners
(1901) A Ragtime Two Step. "The Easy Winners" is one
of Joplin's most finely-crafted rags. |
| 3:37 | |
13 | |
Cleopha
(1902) March and Two Step. One of Joplin's most
rousing marches, it is expecially suited to band performance and was a
favorite of the Sousa band. |
| 3:44 | |
14 | |
The Strenuous Life
(1902) A Ragtime Two Step. Possibly named after Teddy
Roosevelt's statement about enjoying "the strenuous life". |
| Time |
|
Track |
|
Description |
Disc 2 [54:38] |
|
| 2:14 | |
01 | |
I Am Thinking Of My Pickaninny Days
(1902) Like many other Joplin songs this sentimental
tune was typical of many but musically superior to others of its kind. |
| 4:56 | |
02 | |
The Ragtime Dance
(1902) Written and first performed in Sedalia this
work was essentially a folk ballad featuring a caller singing out
nistructinos to dancers as they executed various popular dances. |
| 4:42 | |
03 | |
A Breeze From Alabama
(1902) March and Two Step. What begins a typical
Joplinesque ragtime march develops into one of Joplin's most
adventuresome experiments in transitions. |
| 3:50 | |
04 | |
Elite Syncopations
(1902) Yet another example of Joplin's refinement of
folk-rag elements, this well-constructed rag contains a trio
exhibiting a longer line of phrasing which was to mark many future
Joplin rags. |
| 2:51 | |
05 | |
March Majestic
(1902) March and Two Step. dedicated to James Lacy, a
cornet player and bandleader. |
| 4:23 | |
06 | |
The Entertainer
(1902) A Ragtime Two Step. this gem contains some of
Joplin's most beautiful and memoragle melodies and was dedicated to
James Brown and his Mandolin Club. The rag enjoyed a world-wide
revival in 1974 as a featured instrumental in the Academy
Award-winning picture "The Sting". |
| 3:48 | |
07 | |
Something Doing
(1903) A Ragtime Two Step. This collaboration of
Joplin and Scott Hayden features the characteristic flowing melody and
cakewalk quality of Hayden's work. |
| 5:13 | |
08 | |
Weeping Willow
(1903) A Ragtime Two Step. One of Joplin's most
moving and descriptive rags. |
| 2:20 | |
09 | |
Little Black Baby
(1903) Joplin wrote the music for this sone whose
lyrics were by Louis Armstring Bristol. |
| 3:54 | |
10 | |
Palm Leaf Rag
(1903) A Slow Drag, "Palm Leaf Rag" exhibits many
characteristics found in "Weeping Willow". |
| 3:47 | |
11 | |
The Favorite
(1904) A Ragtime Two Step. Purchased in 1900, for
some reason was not published until 1904. |
| 4:04 | |
12 | |
The Sycamore
(1904) A Concert Rag, Joplin's 1904 and 1905
compositions contain many indications of dynamics, phrasing and
pedalling. |
| 3:21 | |
13 | |
The Cascades
(1904) A Rag. One of Joplin's most original
conceptions, this masterpiece was inspired by the spectacular water
display which was a focal point of the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. |
| 5:07 | |
14 | |
The Chrysanthemum
(1904) An Afro-American Intermezzo. It is another
indication of the increasingly serious nature of Joplin's works during
1904. |
| Time |
|
Track |
|
Description |
Disc 3 [53:28] |
|
| 2:58 | |
01 | |
Rosebud March
(1905) Named after Tom Turpin's Rosebud Cafe, ragtime
mecca of St. Louis. |
| 5:54 | |
02 | |
Bethena
(1905) A Concert Waltz. Joplin's finest waltz is
syncopated throughout. |
| 4:30 | |
03 | |
Leola
(1905) Two Step. The first theme of this tranquil
piece is similar in form to the first theme of "Maple Leaf Rag". |
| 2:13 | |
04 | |
Sarah Dear
(1905) The serious and sentimental nature of Henry
Jackson's words are unusual for a ragtime song. |
| 3:48 | |
05 | |
Binks Waltz
(1905) A charming closed form waltz devoid of
syncopatin "Binks Waltz" further illustrates the range of Joplin's
musical interests in 1905. |
| 4:57 | |
06 | |
Eugenia
(1906) "Eugenia" is a serious rag which features long
flowing phrases. |
| 2:32 | |
07 | |
Antoinette
(1906) March and Two Step. The last march in 6/8
meter Joplin published. |
| 2:49 | |
08 | |
Snoring Sampson
(1907) A Quarrel in Ragtime. Joplin arranged this rag
song by Harry La Mertha, a St. Louis mewspaper man. The humorous
lyrics deal with a husband who keeps his wife awake with loud snoring. |
| 4:32 | |
09 | |
Gladiolus Rag
(1907) Generally regarded as one of Joplin's most
perfectly executed rags. |
| 4:02 | |
10 | |
Searchlight Rag
(1907) A Syncopated March and Two Step. A light,
cheerful rag this piece also shows the fine craftmanship which is
characteristic of all Joplin rags during his peak period. |
| 3:36 | |
11 | |
The Nonpareil (Equal To None)
(1907) A Rag and Two Step. There is a prediominantly
march-like flavor of the rag. |
| 2:00 | |
12 | |
When Your Hair Is Like The Snow
(1907) The sentimental words of this maudlin song by
Owen Spendthrift describe an elderly couple whose sone has left them
for the life of a soldier. |
| 4:45 | |
13 | |
Rose Leaf Rag
(1907) A Ragtime Two Step. It is a graceful rag of
peace and tranquility. |
| 4:45 | |
14 | |
Heliotrope Bouquet
(1907) A Slow Drag Two Step. In 1906 Joplin found
Louis Chauvin in a Chicago sporting house dying of syphilis. There he
added two of his own themes to a couple of beautiful ragtime strains
to create "Heliotrope Bouquet". |
| Time |
|
Track |
|
Description |
Disc 4 [53:34] |
|
| 1:54 | |
01 | |
School of Ragtime
(1908) Six Exercises for Piano. Joplin's short course
on ragtime was sold for fifty cents and included some general
instructions for playing ragtime. |
| 4:36 | |
02 | |
Fig Leaf Rag
(1908) A High Class Rag. Another Joplin masterpiece,
"Fig Leaf Rag" is a work of changing moods. |
| 4:21 | |
03 | |
Sugar Cane
(1908) A Ragtime Two Step. The cover of the sheet
music refers to this as a "Ragtime Classic Two Step". |
| 3:59 | |
04 | |
Pine Apple Rag
(1908) This rag is also one of many moods. The lyrics
describe how wounderful it was to dance to the rag with one's
sweetheart. |
| 4:21 | |
05 | |
Wall Street Rag
(1909) Weritten at the beginning of Joplin's
Experimental Period, "Wall Street Rag" features four themes of
different moods. |
| 6:13 | |
06 | |
Solace
(1909) A Mexican Serenade. Although technically not a
rag this is an experimental venture with tango rhythms. |
| 3:02 | |
07 | |
Pleasant Moments
(1909) Ratime Waltz. Although less grandiose then
"Bethena", this ragtime waltz makes more daring use of syncopation. |
| 3:58 | |
08 | |
Country Club
(1909) Ragtime Two Step. Reminiscent of earlier works
"Country Club" alternates between dance-like themes and song-like
themes. |
| 4:10 | |
09 | |
Paragon Rag
(1909) The first theme of this rag is in the same mold
as some of Joplin's earlier works. |
| 4:00 | |
10 | |
Euphonic Sounds
(1909) A Syncopated Two Step. This is one of Joplin's
most important works and one of his most successful experiments in
extending the rag form beyond its inherent restraints. |
| 2:45 | |
11 | |
Stoptime Rag
(1910) Here is Joplin in one of his few playful moods.
The foot stamping device used in "The Ragtime Dance" is now used
thoughout the rag. |
| 3:25 | |
12 | |
Felicity Rag
(1911) A Ragtime Two Step. This collaboration with
Scott Hayden was probably written prioro to Joplin's arrival in New
York, since Hayden never travelled East. |
| 3:23 | |
13 | |
Lovin' Babe
(1911) This song by AIR. Turniner arranged by Joplin
was accidentally found while this collection was being recorded.
Music historian Thornton Hagert discovered it in the Library of
Congress while doing research on an unrelated project. |
| 3:20 | |
14 | |
Scott Joplin's New Rag
(1912) As in "Euphonic Sounds" Joplin alternates
themes of triumph and consolation with those of tension and doubt. |
| Time |
|
Track |
|
Description |
Disc 5 [54:21] |
|
| 16:55 | |
01 | |
Highlights from "Treemonisha"
(1911) Much of the last tne years of Joplin's life was
consumed with his opera "Treemonisha" for which he wrote both words
and music. Its failure to interest backers was a bitter
disapplintment to him since it had been his most ambitious and
important endeavor. He never fecovered from this mortal defeat.
"Treemonisha" is a folk opera with some ragtime passages but not pure
"ragtime opera". It is a distinctive combination of black folk music. |
| 5:17 | |
02 | |
A Real Slow Drag
(1913) "Treemonisha" ends with this beautiful ragtime
dance as all of the people celebrate by doing "The Slow Drag". |
| 3:52 | |
03 | |
Prelude to Act 3
(1911) Occurring in the opera immediately preceding "I
Want to See My Child" the "Prelude to Act 3" contains two themes heard
later in the act. |
| 4:57 | |
04 | |
Frolic of the Bears
(1911) This dance number immediately precedes "The
Wasp Nest". A ragtime waltz, it accompanies the frolicking of eight
bears! |
| 3:43 | |
05 | |
Kismet Rag
(1913) John Stark had moved from New York back to St.
Louis when he published this earlier Joplin-Hayden collaboration. |
| 4:27 | |
06 | |
Magnetic Rag
(1914) Joplin's last rag gives another hint of the
height beyond which he could have elevated the rag form had he lived a
few more years. |
| 5:05 | |
07 | |
Reflection Rag
(1917) Syncopated Musings. Eight nonths after
Joplin's death on April 1, 1917 Stark published this Joplin work which
had been in its files. |
| 4:05 | |
08 | |
Silver Swan Rag
(1971) In 1970, Los Angeles piano roll collector
Albert Grimaldi discovered the roll of "Silver Swan" among other which
had been stroed in his garage for fifteen years. Although the roll
had been listed in QRS catalogs, it apparently never had been
published, but the QRS roll was issued sometime between 1912 and 1915. |
| 3:13 | |
09 | |
Lily Queen
(1907) A Ragtime Two Step. Although this rag is
credited to both Joplin and Arthur Marshall, Marshall stated that he
was the sole composer and that Joplin only lent his name to help it
get published in New York. |
| 2:40 | |
10 | |
Sensation
(1908) A Rag. Joplin's name as arranger of this rag
by Joesph F. Lamb insterested Stark in its publication and began an
eleven year association between Lamb and Stark. |
|
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