Ragtime is a type of rhythmic music that was highly popular in the United States around 1895 to 1915. Ragtime (from “ragged time”), or simply rag, probably developed from military marches and from music that accompanied minstrel show dances.
Ragtime is characterized by melodies that are highly syncopated (irregularly accented) combined with accompaniments that have regular accents. Ragtime pieces also have clear-cut thematic sections. Rags were played either on piano or by small bands with various combinations of instruments and became an early influence on jazz.
Although improvised rags were common in the early years, formally composed versions soon became widely published. Among the earliest published rags were Tom Turpin’s “Harlem Rag” (1897) and Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” (1899). Joplin became known as the “King of Ragtime.” Other important ragtime composers included Joseph F. Lamb and James Scott.
Loading the player...Ragtime
