??? History of Ragtime ???
Philippe de Boulois
Could you tell me What is the definition of Ragtime.
When did the Ragtime began and when it finish ?
Wich Band, Artist represente the best the Ragtime Era ? I want to make my
record library of the Ragtime Era
I have also heard that some dances represente the Ragtime, wich one, is
there a book or poster with allthose dances?
If you are living in London, New-York, Chicago, New-Orléans ; if you can
give me information, way of research for place to ear Ragtime music,
Specialize Library or anything about the subject It could help me.
Thanks from France
Philippe
Hal Vickery
<philippe.d...@free.fr> wrote:
> My English is not so good, I hope you will understand what I am looking for.
> Could you tell me What is the definition of Ragtime.
I'm kind of lacking in time, so I'll leave this for others to flesh out.
Ragtime is a form of African-American music, usually written in 2/4 time.
It began primarily as a form of piano music. It features an "oom-pah" left
hand over which the right hand plays a syncopated melody. The syncopation
was called "ragged time," eventually shorted to "rag-time" or "ragtime."
> When did the Ragtime began and when it finish ?
Ragtime is known to have been played in the 1890's. Somebody can correct
me on this, but I think the earliest published rag was in 1896. The
ragtime era was pretty much over by 1920 when it was overtaken in
popularity by jazz.
> Wich Band, Artist represente the best the Ragtime Era ?
If you're talking about the original artists/composers, you'd have to go
with the "big three" of Scott Joplin, James Scott, and Joseph Lamb. After
them, you can choose from composers like Eubie Blake (who lived into the
1980's), Tom Turpin, C. Luckeyeth ("Luckey") Roberts, Muriel Pollack, and a
host of others. I'm sure you'll hear several other names in the next day
or two. One I'll put in as a good transition between ragtime and jazz is
the New Orleans pianist Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton.
If you're talking about modern players, my favorits is Max Morath. He has
several albums, and I believe he also has a web site. William Bolcom is an
excellent player/composer. One person I think people either love or hate
is Joshua Rifkin. He helped re-popularize Scott Joplin's music about 30
years ago. I've read some harsh reviews of his playing by some music
critics, but I've always liked him. Again, there are a whole lot of other
players that others will mention here. Another player I enjoy, who also
excels at playing traditional jazz is Dick Hyman. He recorded the complete
works of Scott Joplin several years ago.
About 1913, just as it seemed ragtime's popularity was on the wane, Irving
Berlin wrote "Alexander's Ragtime Band," not a ragtime piece at all, but it
sparked a new ragtime craze. Berlin became known as the "King of Ragtime."
After the success of "Alexander," Berlin did incorporate ragtime
syncopation into his popular songs, e.g. "I Love a Piano."
I want to make my
> record library of the Ragtime Era
There's actually quite a bit available. Most of mine is on LP, though, and
not CD.
> I have also heard that some dances represente the Ragtime, wich one, is
> there a book or poster with allthose dances?
The cake walk, two-step, one-step, and all the dance crazes from the
1910's, such as the grizzly bear, were all danced to ragtime rhythms.
> If you are living in London, New-York, Chicago, New-OrlÈans ; if you can
> give me information, way of research for place to ear Ragtime music,
> Specialize Library or anything about the subject It could help me.
Search the web for ragtime. There's tons of stuff available.
nsmf
Colin D. MacDonald
I recommend that your first stop be at Mary Haley's Ragtime and Related
Music Home Page at http://www.ragtimers.org/ .
She provides a comprehensive source list: recordings, books, folios,
vendors, organizations, festivals, concerts, mp3, midi files etc.
Start with the links on her page and you should be able to follow a fruitful
ragtime path.
eabe...@fnol.net
"Colin D. MacDonald" <coli...@RagtimeMusic.Com> wrote:
>
> I recommend that your first stop be at Mary Haley's Ragtime and
Related
> Music Home Page at http://www.ragtimers.org/ .
>
. .
Comprehensive list of books????? Better take another look.
Ed
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Colin D. MacDonald
an accurate statement.
True, she doesn't list your book as well as those of others. But she does
provide a good source for one to start form.
<eabe...@fnol.net> wrote in message news:8ab4al$i4n$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <8aappb$c...@journal.concentric.net>,
> "Colin D. MacDonald" <coli...@RagtimeMusic.Com> wrote:
> >
> > I recommend that your first stop be at Mary Haley's Ragtime and
> Related
> > Music Home Page at http://www.ragtimers.org/ .
> >
> > She provides a comprehensive source list: recordings, books,<snip>. .
> .. .
eabe...@fnol.net
"Colin D. MacDonald" <coli...@RagtimeMusic.Com> wrote:
> What I said was "provides a comprehensive source list" and I think
that is
> an accurate statement.
>
> True, she doesn't list your book as well as those of others. But she
does
> provide a good source for one to start form.
That's a bit of hair-splitting distinction. Do you really suppose it
was grasped by the original poster, whose facility in English is not
strong (though certainly stronger than my efforts at French)?
I do not intend this as a criticism of Mary, who has done a fine job
with the things that interest her (books not being sharply in her
focus). But why recommend her site for a selection of books when her
list has so very little of historical scholarship? A person, such as
the original inquirer, would naturally conclude that little has been
written on ragtime history. I applaud your wish to be of service, but a
poorly considered recommendation like that becomes a disservice.
Ed
Colin D. MacDonald
Where do I begin???
Let's see. I have performed a "disservice" by recommending Mary's site?.
Particularly, since in Ed Berlin's perception, one of the items (i.e.,
"books") in the "comprehensive source list" doesn't meet his criterion for
being "comprehensive".
Also, I failed to take into account that the original poster may not have
grasped what I believe I said. I guess that is certainly possible. After
all, Ed didn't get it either. If I have mislead anyone, I apologize. My
intent was to provide useful information - not mislead.
I believe that postings to the newsgroup serve multiple purposes in that
they provide information to the original poster as well as other readers of
the posts. I thought my recommending Mary's site would be helpful to others
beside the poster. I still recommend her site as the place to begin.
Rather than to call me up short for possibly misleading the reader, I wish
that Ed had come forward with his more comprehensive list of books with
"historical scholarship".
Enough said - this is my final post on this silly dialogue!
<eabe...@fnol.net> wrote in message news:8adr01$ede$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Irwin Schwartz
that Ed had come forward with his more comprehensive list of books with
"historical scholarship". >>
I don't want to encourage a overly-spirited tete-a-tete -- particularly in this
newsgroup; however, I don't think this exchange is "silly," as Colin puts it,
because Ed DID incorporate an "extensive list of books of historical
scholarship" in the bibliography of his "King of Ragtime." From my perspective,
if anything, Ed's an unrepentent -- indeed, a fundamentalist -- stickler for
primary-source justifiable fact. Ed, I think, is a scholar most attracted by
what can be substiantiated, and is neither a ragtime performer nor a
self-serving politico who bends "facts" to his own advantage.
That notwithstanding, I have the greatest personal respect and admiration for
Colin -- a guy whom I consider a friend and who continues to be the
indefatigable custodian of the West Coast Ragtime Festival [Grazie, Colin!].
And no, I don't think that Colin has performed a "disservice" by recommending
Mary's site, which is clearly the first stop for ragfans who want to listen to
the music we love so much. But her site is not necessarily the first stop for
those who want to *learn* about our music. This news group is.
The bottom line, I think, is that stars beat stripes when it comes to
professional scholarship.
Regards,
Irwin
http://members.aol.com/midimusic
smctr
>
> My English is not so good, I hope you will understand what I am looking for.
> Could you tell me What is the definition of Ragtime.
> record library of the Ragtime Era
> there a book or poster with allthose dances?
> give me information, way of research for place to ear Ragtime music,
> Specialize Library or anything about the subject It could help me.
>
>
> Philippe
Here's some books to get you started. Click on the links for description & ordering info:
Rags and Ragtime : A Musical History
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486259226/qid=952888542/sr=1-12/002-3680090-6944209
That American Rag!:The Story of Ragtime in the United States
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0028647432/qid=952888819/sr=1-89/002-3680090-6944209
Ragtime: A Musical and Cultural History
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0520052196/qid=952888819/sr=1-81/002-3680090-6944209
King of Ragtime : Scott Joplin and His Era
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195101081/qid=952888542/sr=1-10/002-3680090-6944209
Blind Boone : Missouri's Ragtime Pioneer (Missouri Heritage Readers Series)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0826211984/qid=952888542/sr=1-4/002-3680090-6944209
A Life in Ragtime : A Biography of James Reese Europe
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/019506044X/qid=952888819/sr=1-58/002-3680090-6944209
If you're interested in Ragtime Sheet Music check out my website at:
http://www.sheetmusiccenter.com
Joel