The Entertainer - Scott Joplin

[howardpgh]

I'm a fan of the Arden-Ohman Orchestra piano duets.
I don't have this one. Based on their other records, this version of Maple Leaf Rag would be nice to hear.
Link to DAHR listing
http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/o ... ctor_22608

[Edisone]

Ask and ye shall receive rags...

[estott]

The Smiler is very nice! Two of my favorites are not even Joplin compositions: "Temptation Rag" and "Black & White Rag". I am not really disparaging bands, but I was disappointed to realize that more rags weren't recorded on the piano during that time.

Ragtime solo piano recordings only became popular during the Novelty Rag era when players like Roy Bargy and Zez Confrey entered the field.

[estott]

As far as how rags are played, I prefer the Joshua Rifkin albums. I am not a musician, but the tempi used simply seem more correct to me rather than the way a lot of ragtime was "hammered out" at ridiculous speeds in 40s&50s recordings. Joplin's rags seem to me to be very delicate art pieces and he wanted them to be played in that way.

Jim

True: Joplin wrote in the "Missouri style", which was much mellower than the "East Coast style". A moderate march tempo generally works best with his rags (sometimes even slower: play "Sunflower Slow Drag" at a real slow drag tempo, and you'll be surprised how sensuous it sounds)...

Bill

Rifkin's tempos are OK, but while his albums were groundbreaking in their time his overly careful and rigid style can suck the life out of the music.

[Lucius1958]

True: Joplin wrote in the "Missouri style", which was much mellower than the "East Coast style". A moderate march tempo generally works best with his rags (sometimes even slower: play "Sunflower Slow Drag" at a real slow drag tempo, and you'll be surprised how sensuous it sounds)...

Bill

Rifkin's tempos are OK, but while his albums were groundbreaking in their time his overly careful and rigid style can suck the life out of the music.

I certainly understand that: Rifkin (from the perspective of 40 years now) did tend to be a bit funereal in style: one needs to let the syncopations find their own space...

Bill