Ragtime is, "a musical form or style that is defined as a syncopated (shifting of the normal accent, usually by stressing the normally unaccented beats) melody (usually 2/4 time) over a regular, march tempo bass line" (dictionary.com). Ragtime was primarily preformed by just piano, and rarely had vocals. The most common patterns include: AABBACC, AABBCCDD, or AABBCCA. Its' syncopation (as mentioned earlier) is what separates it from the other contemporary music at the time. The best way an artist could represent ragtime, would be by piano rolls and printed music, this was essentially its' identity.
Ragtime reached its' greatest popularity between 1897 and World War I. Looking back, its' main roots included: cakewalks, banjo playing, minstrel-shows, plantation songs, and black folk music. The 1893 Colombian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois is known in by musical historians as, essentially the publication of ragtime music as a whole. But by the 1920's ragtime was considered "old hat". Its' era was short and sweet.
Scott Joplin is the musical image of "rag or "ragtime". But he is not the father. Many people suspect that since he is the most well known and started producing right as ragtime first began, that he is the father. But its' real father is Shep Edmonds, and given the nickname, "father of ragtime", for obvious reasons. Scott Joplin did not invent ragtime music.
Although Joplin is the most influential and widespread ragtime artist and producer, not all ragtime music fits under his style. Examples of this include: Russian Rag, Frog Legs, The Frisco Rag, The Louisiana, Dynamite Rag, Good Gravy, and the Ragtime Engineer. All of these were not under Joplin's style of ragtime. However, "The Entertainer", possibly the most popular ragtime song ever created is under his style, and one of his production at that. Joplin is also considered the most talented ragtime artist ever, this is ironic, considering he wished to be recognized as a classical composer.
Scott Joplin sets big goals for himself and aspired to them greatly. His main goal was to be a, "successful composer for the lyric stage and continually worked toward this end." But unfortunately he was not much a a lyrics guy. He did end up becoming one of the top twenty-five musicians of all time though. His interest in classical music was spurred by his teacher at a young age, Julius Weiss. Julius was a German-born musician that caught view of Joplin at Texarkana one year. Julius placed special emphasis on Joplin's European and opera musical habits, improving him as an all-around artist.
Joplin was born somewhere in Texas, no one is exactly sure when or exactly where though. He guessed birthday is November 24, 1868, but we know that that is incorrect for sure. As a child he lived on both sides of the Texas-Arkansas border. His father was a slave, but was freed from the Thirteenth Amendment. Joplin's "musical home", although he only live there for a short while, was Sedalia, Missouri. As an adult though, he lived mainly in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was great friends with Tom Turpin. Turpin (a saloon owner and ragtime pioneer) offered his saloon up to Joplin anytime he wanted (to preform). But Joplin preferred teaching and composing rather than preforming.
Sources
Parlorsongs
CNX
Scott Joplin
Stargoldmusic
lcweb2
Dictionary.com
