Study Notes on Ragtime

Ragtime: Introduction and Definition

  • Ragtime was a popular genre of music around the turn of the twentieth century.
  • Unlike Tin Pan Alley songs, ragtime was primarily an instrumental music genre.
  • The genre was typically performed on solo piano.
  • Ragtime served as a hybrid of several musical traditions:
    • The march form
    • The sheet music tradition
    • Features of African American music

March Form and Structure

  • The march form popularized by composers such as John Philip Sousa:
    • Characterized by 16 measure units in a fairly consistent formula:
    • Introduction: 4 measures or 8 measures optional
    • Repeat Section A
    • Repeat Section B
    • Repeat Section C
    • Repeat Section D
    • Repeat Section D (again)
  • Ragtime pieces were primarily written for solo piano but were often arranged for instrumental ensembles.

Key Composers and Works

  • The most prolific composer of piano rags was Scott Joplin.
    • Noted for having written over 40 ragtime pieces.
    • His piece "Maple Leaf Rag" from 1899 is a typical example of the piano rag form.
    • Encouraged listeners to refer to Joplin's own recording of this popular piece for a better understanding of the style.

Musical Characteristics

  • Piano Rag Structure:
    • Features a steady left-hand rhythm known as stride.
    • Incorporates a syncopated melody in the right hand.
  • Syncopation Explained:
    • Involves the accent falling on weak beats or on weak parts of the beat.
    • The term "ragtime" is believed to be derived from this use of syncopation, as syncopated melodies were perceived as "ragged time" or "ragging".

Cultural Impact and Historical Context

  • Syncopation is a significant element of many African American musical forms.
    • It became commonplace in popular music, making it challenging to recognize how new and exciting it was to white listeners in the early twentieth century.
  • As ragtime gained popularity, instrumental ensembles began to adopt and "rag" existing compositions.
    • It was common to hear marching bands, particularly African American ensembles led by figures like James Reese Europe in the 1910s, taking standard John Philip Sousa marches and applying syncopation to them.

Ragtime and Jazz Relationship

  • The act of ragging existing standards was a precursor to the emergence of jazz music.
    • In the early decades of jazz, listeners often used the terms "ragtime" and "jazz" interchangeably, reflecting the close relationship between the two genres.