Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 06/10/2003
Run Time: 53:38
When
Scott Joplin wrote his
ragtime compositions between 1899 and 1917, they often turned up on player pianos. The player piano roll not only served to entertain audiences crazed for syncopation, but also to preserve the music for the next generation. Unfortunately, a number of
Joplin's creations were either never recorded on piano rolls during his lifetime or can no longer be found. That's where
Elite Syncopations comes in. Many of these recordings were taken from the collection of
Hal Boulware. In the 1960s,
Boulware filled the gaps of missing
Joplin pieces by faithfully re-creating piano rolls out of printed scores. While certain pieces -- like
"Maple Leaf Rag" -- are familiar, there's a subtle difference. On
"Maple Leaf Rag," "Ole Miss Rag," and
"Magnetic Rag," the piano rolls have been scored from
Joplin's own solo work. The King of the
Ragtime Writers was reportedly a good pianist, though no more than six of his solos survive.
"Ole Miss Rag" -- the one piece by
W.C. Handy -- comes from a rare piano roll (the only known copy), while
"Silver Swan Rag" was only unearthed in 1970. Rare or not, these recordings have the same fresh vibrancy as other
Joplin compositions.
Elite Syncopations will entice
Joplin fans while also serving as a fine introduction to his work.
~Ronnie D. Lankford Jr., All Music Guide
;)
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