ID: Ragtime Music (1895-1920)
WHEN: 1895-1920
WHO:
Scott Joplin (most famous composer), other notable composers and performers including but not limited to: Jelly Roll Morton, Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson. African American musicians were primarily responsible for creating and popularizing the genre.
WHAT:
Ragtime was a musical genre characterized by its syncopated rhythm, a specific rhythmic pattern where accents are placed on normally unaccented beats. It often featured a strong, driving beat and melodies with a distinctive “ragged” or irregular quality. It was popular in sheet music and played on pianos in saloons, dance halls, and eventually concert halls.
IMPACT: Why Significant?:
- Bridging Musical Styles: Ragtime blended European musical traditions (classical influences) with African American musical traditions (rhythms and improvisation), foreshadowing the development of jazz.
- Cultural Impact: Ragtime was a significant form of musical expression for African Americans during a time of racial segregation, giving them a platform for artistic creation and cultural identity. It also reflected the social changes and energy of the era.
- [Popular [Culture: It achieved widespread popularity across racial lines, demonstrating the power of music to transcend social boundaries (though racial segregation still greatly limited the opportunities for Black performers and composers).
- Influence on Later Genres: Its rhythmic innovations heavily influenced jazz, blues, and other popular music genres that followed. It helped pave the way for the evolution of American popular music in the 20th century.
- Technological influence: The rise of player pianos and sheet music aided in Ragtime’s popularity and distribution.