Ragtime Unit Presentation

1. Ragtime Unit Presentation Miss Biscella 7th and 8th Grade Classes

2. What is Ragtime? • Style of music which served as a precursor to JAZZ • Melody features highly syncopated (or “ragged”) rhythms above a rhythmically steady harmony • Began as improvisation • “Ragging” the classics • Mostly piano music

3. Origins of Ragtime • Developed in the 1890s and remained popular into the 1920s • Partially inspired by a dance called the CAKEWALK • Competitive couples dance invented by African Americans in slavery • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7DmFXjNDoM

4. Origins of Ragtime • Combination of Classical/European and African music conventions • European Elements included: • Supported rhythm in the harmony • Set form (either ABCD or ABACD) • Chord progressions (I and V) • African Elements include: • Syncopation • Multiple layers of rhythm • Repetition of short rhythmic or melodic patterns

5. Composer of the Day (3/5) • Thomas Turpin (1871-1922)

6. Thomas Turpin (1871-1922) • Born in Savannah, Georgia • Moved with his family to St. Louis, Missouri • Father—business man and politician • Invested in gold-mining with brother, Charles in Nevada • Moved back home and eventually married his wife Willamete

7. Thomas Turpin (1871-1922) • Rosebud Bar—St. Louis • Often served as his own star of the show by performing at the piano each night • Opened numerous other businesses in the years that followed • Died at the age of 50

8. Turpin as a Composer • Gifted pianist since his early teens • Often only composed when business was down • Wrote “The Harlem Rag” in 1897 • First ragtime piece published not only in St. Louis, but anywhere • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx6XmoH30qs • Other compositions include the “Buffalo Rag”, “Pan Am Rag”, “St. Louis Rag”, and “A Ragtime Nightmare”.

9. Let’s Review, Shall We? • What is the primary instrument in rag? • What is the relationship between the melody and harmony in ragtime? • When was this style popular? • Ragtime is a mixture of musical conventions from which two areas of the world? • Who was the composer we discussed yesterday? • What song is considered the first published ragtime piece?

10. Syncopation • Definition—placing the accent on the off-beat (or “and” of a beat) in a piece of music • Very important in ragtime and later jazz • Here’s what it looks like!

11. Composer of the Day (3/6) • James Scott (1885-1938)

12. James Scott—Beginnings • Considered one of the BIG THREE in ragtime** • Born in Neosho, Missouri to former slaves • Mother taught him as well as his five siblings to play piano by ear • Had some actual lessons as well • Ability to notate music • Met Charles R. Dumars of Dumars Music--made him a published composer

13. James Scott—Career Peak • Published his first rags in 1903 • “A Summer Breeze” and “The Fascinator” • Performed in cities around the country on his own or with the Light Guard Band • Travelled to St. Louis and met Scott Joplin • Introduced to prominent publisher John Stark • Frog Legs Rag (1906) • Most works since were published by him

14. James Scott—Later Years • 1920—moved to Kansas City and opened his own teaching studio • Led to nickname “Little Professor” • Theater and silent film bands • Continued composing despite the decline in ragtime’s popularity • Nothing published since 1922 • Works ignored and grave unmarked until the “ragtime revival” during the 1970s

15. Review Questions • What is syncopation? • Who can demonstrate syncopation for the class? • Who was the composer we studied yesterday? • This composer is part of the _________ _________ • What was the name of the piece we listened to yesterday? • What was the name of the publisher James Scott met in St. Louis?

16. Let’s Play….Name That Tune! “The Entertainer” by...

17. Scott Joplin (1868?-1917)

18. A Brief Overview • Considered the “King of Ragtime” and a member of the BIG THREE • Composed over forty piano ragtime pieces including “The Entertainer” and “The Maple Leaf Rag” • Wrote both rag and classical pieces • Finished composing two full-length operas before his death in 1917. • Able to perform on several instruments including the piano, cornet, violin, and voice

19. Joplin’s Early Years • Despite his prominence in ragtime, some of the details of his early life are a mystery • Birth year and place • Taught himself piano • He had perfect pitch too!! • Eventually worked with a piano teacher from Germany • Introduced him to classical music • Went to high school in Sedalia, Missouri—which later served as his “home base”

20. Start of Joplin’s Career • 1891—first concrete evidence of Joplin’s career • Performed in various ensembles in Sedalia • Attended some college-level courses to study music notation which then allowed him to compose away from the piano • Wrote a few classical pieces and started writing rags with only some success • 1899—Met John Stark who helped him publish “The Maple Leaf Rag”

21. Joplin’s Later Years • 1901—moved to St. Louis (the heart of rag) • Where he composed “The Entertainer” in 1902 • Able to focus on composing, teaching, and collaborating with other ragtime musicians • 1903—First opera called A Guest of Honor • Opera company dissipated after just a couple months • Three marriages between 1901 and 1917

22. More on his Later Years • Began work on his second opera, Treemonisha, in 1907 • Submitted it to Irving Berlin for publishing in 1910 but it was rejected • Eventually published it himself in 1911 • Tried many times to put on a full production but could never see it happen in his lifetime • Finally staged during the rag revival of the 1970s

23. Here’s Some More Review! • Who is considered the “king of ragtime”? • Name one piece we listened to by this composer? • What city is considered the heart of rag? • Who was Scott Joplin’s main publisher? • What other types of music did he write while he was alive? • Anyone want to demonstrate syncopation today? 

24. This Week’s Agenda… • Monday and Tuesday—Finish new material • Wednesday—Substitute Teacher • Likely watch a movie in the band room • May want to take the time to study what we’ve covered in class • Thursday—Review Game • Friday—RAGTIME UNIT TEST • Study guide to come soon!

25. Historical Contexts of the Time • Industrial Revolution • It’s all about efficiency! • Planes, trains, and automobiles • Segregation • Women’s Suffrage • Right to vote • Feminism • Peak of immigration • “Melting Pot” • Age of Giant Corporations • World War I (1914-1919) • Sinking of Titanic (1912) • Prohibition (1919) • Speakeasies

26. Daily Life at the Time of Rag • Faster-paced living • Sports • Baseball • Basketball (invented 1893) • Bicycling • Radio/ Playing music • Ballroom dancing (1900s-on) • Travel becoming faster/easier

27. Connections to Ragtime • Fast-paced tempo • Up-lifting melody/mood • Blending of cultural music conventions • Precision is key! • Piano rolls • Improvisation was unacceptable

28. Composer of the Day (3/10) • Joseph Lamb (1887-1960)

29. Joseph Lamb Childhood • Born in 1887 in New Jersey • Came from a musical family—learned piano and composition from this older sisters who received formal training • Inspired by Scott Joplin at an early age • Attended school in Ontario, Canada • Began writing/publishing work in the early 1900s

30. Career Beginnings • 1908—Chance to meet his idol Scott Joplin • Performed his rag “Sensation” for him • Joplin was impressed and took the young composer under his wing • Introduced to publisher John Stark who published most of his works since

31. Rest of his Early Career • Married in 1911 and moved to Brooklyn • Best rags written during this time including “The Bohemia”, “American Beauty”, and “Alaskan Rag” • Got into the textile business and music became a hobby • Rarely performed publicly • When rag eventually lost favor in the 1920s, Lamb removed himself from the public eye living a normal life with his family

32. The Come-Back Kid • Joseph Lamb returned to the spotlight when his pieces started regaining popularity in the late 40s and early 50s • Now that music recording was available he reworked some of his pieces and created piano albums • One of just a couple original composers to see the rag revival before his death at the age of 72

33. Time for Some Review! • What were some historical events that happened while rag was popular? • What were some aspects of daily life at the time? • What connections can be made between these last two questions and ragtime? • Who was yesterday’s composer of the day? • What were some things that made him unique from Joplin and Scott? • Can someone NOTATE an example of syncopation for the class today?

34. Composer of the Day (3/11) • Jelly Roll Morton (1885?-1941)

35. Morton’s Childhood • Born in New Orleans, LA • Several different dates provided for his birth date, no one is sure which one is correct • Real name is Ferdinand Joseph LaMotte • When mother married William Mouton—he took that name changing it slightly to “Morton” • Interested in a variety of instruments including the violin, drums, trombone, and guitar • Started learning piano at the age of 10

36. Early Career • Moved in with his grandmother in 1901 in a district of New Orleans that exposed him to a variety of musical styles—including rag • Travelled all over the South playing piano in vaudeville shows • Liked to make-up stories and exaggerate his own life story • Claimed to have “invented jazz” in 1902 • Some of his early performance techniques would later become standard practice in jazz

37. More on his Career… • Lived in Chicago from 1914-1917 and began composing his own pieces including the popular rag “Frog-I-More-Rag” and a blues piece titled “Jelly Roll Blues” • From the 1920s on he focused solely on jazz now that ragtime had lost its popularity • Some of his major jazz compositions included “Grandpa’s Spells” and “Black Bottom Stomp” which were recorded with his jazz band between 1926 and 1930

38. How Rag Later Influenced Jazz • New Orleans, Louisiana • Blues, Ragtime, and Marching Bands were everywhere and quite popular • Many musicians in the area enjoyed these styles, but also had a passion for improvisation (a low-class practice at the time) • Started to combine their respective styles together with added improvisation and imitation thus jazz was born!

39. Why Rag Eventually Lost Favor • Ragtime did not experience much development as a style • People grew tired of the strict rules involved and wanted to have room to interpret the music for themselves • Jazz really grew in popularity and it’s new freedom was more appealing to the general public • Considered a brief but important fad in music history

40. That’s All She Wrote Folks! • REMEMBER: • Written test is on FRIDAY (3/15) • Performance Assessment (Syncopation) will occur early next week—See me if you are struggling • Study Guides will be posted on Showbie by the end of the day • Questions? 

41. References • A History of Western Music (8th Ed) by J. Peter Burkholder, Donald Jay Grout, and Claude V. Palisca • http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/t/turpin/index.html • http://www.jazzinamerica.org/jazzresources/stylesheets/4 • http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200035811/default.html • http://ragpiano.com/comps/tturpin.shtml • http://allmusic.com • http://jstor.org • http://www.scottjoplin.org/biography/ • http://www.grainger.de/music/composers/lambj.html

42. References Continued… • http://wwwappskc.lonestar.edu/popculture/19thcentury1890.htm • http://wwwappskc.lonestar.edu/popculture/20thcentury1900.htm • http://wwwappskc.lonestar.edu/popculture/20thcentury1910.htm • http://www.scaruffi.com/history/jazz1.html • http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/composer-jelly-roll-morton-ragtime-early-jazz • http://www.doctorjazz.co.uk/page10a.html#onthe • http://www.jazz.com/encyclopedia/morton-jelly-roll-ferdinand-joseph-lamothe