Now dancing to a syncopated (“black”) beat had become acceptable.Ī. Soon white bands played syncopated dances, and the foxtrot became the most important social dance of the 1920s and 30s. *Listen to Europe’s “Castle House Rag,” and follow the Listening Cue in the text. Some of these are called rags, such as the “Castle House Rag” of 1914, but there are differences between Europe’s orchestral rags and Joplin’s piano rags:Ģ) Less syncopation (less rhythmic conflict between parts) ģ) Chances for instrumentalists to improvise, as the drummer does near the end of “Castle House Rag.” Europe popularized the foxtrot, a dance with two beats and a strong backbeat. Europe composed syncopated dances for Vernon and Irene Castle, a popular dance couple of the day (see photo at right).Ĭ. Generally, a band does not have strings, whereas an orchestra does.ī. His group included strings (mostly violins), so the designation is warranted. Notice Europe’s use of the word “orchestra,” rather than band. His Europe’s Society Orchestra won national acclaim, and Europe was probably the most respected black musician in the US during his lifetime. Europe was an orchestral conductor and entrepreneur. James Reese Europe (1881-1919)-see photo at right belowĪ. Eventually the foxtrot would emerge as a more refined “animal dance.”Ĥ. Some dances were outlawed in various places because of the loose clothing worn by women and the body contact between dancers.Ĭ. Other dances followed, some named for animals, such as the grizzly bear and the turkey trot (see the dancers in the photo at right).ī. Ragtime soon became music for social dancing. *Listen to Morton’s “Maple Leaf Stomp,” a jazz arrangement of Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag.”ģ) Influenced some classical composers, such as Claude Debussy and Paul Hindemith.Ī. Piano rags influenced famous jazz pianist “Jelly Roll” Morton to actually become a pianist Many composers followed Joplin’s lead in publishing rags, which became a big business for music publishers.ġ) Shaped jazz in the early years. Handy) to preserve their musical heritage.ģ) The first time African-American music was published and disseminated to a wide audience. This encouraged other black artists (for example, W. (Minstrelsy had mixed African-American idioms with folk styles.)Ģ) The first time that many African-Americans became aware of their own culture. Joplin believed that he had elevated the folk dance to the concert hall (as Chopin had done with the mazurka).ġ) The first true musical mixture of European and African-American styles. It also faced prejudice, because it was considered a black musical style.ġ) Ragtime has lasted because it is a serious artistic style. As ragtime became popular, it met with resistance because it was associated with saloons and brothels, where it was often played.Ĭ. Sometimes pieces that were hardly syncopated at all included “ragtime” in the title, for example “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (see sheet music at right).ī. Initially a piano piece, rag soon came to mean any syncopated music. *Listen to another rag by Joplin, “The Entertainer”Ī. *Listen to Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” (1899), which is played here by Joplin himself on a piano roll, and follow the Listening Cue in the text. Ragtime represents an intersection between European (harmonies, march form, use of piano) and African (complicated, syncopated rhythm) styles. Compare the Listening Cue in your text for Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” to that for Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”ĭ. The form is close to that of the march with repeated sections. Moderate tempo-Joplin warned against playing his rags too fast.Ĭ. Syncopated melody in the right hand, against a steady march-like beat in the left hand.ī. Also wrote a ballet and two operas (one is lost).Ī. Published his first piano “rag” in 1899, followed by many others (see “Wall Street Rag” at right).ĭ. Trained as a classical pianist and composer, but also played cornet and led a band.Ĭ. Born in Arkansas, settled in Missouri, and eventually went to New York City.ī. Ragtime would flourish from the last years of the 19th century until just after World War I, when jazz would take over.Ī. But it wasn’t until the piano rags of Scott Joplin (see photo at right) that syncopation would become an important feature in popular music.ĭ. After the Civil War, many black pianists were playing syncopated music, especially in the Midwest and on the East Coast.Ĭ. Syncopation had already been featured in the songs and dances of the post-war minstrel show.ī.
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