Ragtime
Ragtime is an energetic, syncopated piano-based genre characterized by a "ragged" rhythm in the melody against a steady bass line, creating a lively and often joyful atmosphere. Emerging in the United States, it gained immense popularity between 1897 and 1918, evolving from influences like the cake-walk and salon music. The undisputed master of this style was Scott Joplin, alongside notable figures like James Scott and Joseph Lamb. Ragtime is widely regarded as a crucial precursor to jazz, laying foundational rhythmic and harmonic elements for the burgeoning new genre.
More about Ragtime
Ragtime is one of the most original and characteristic musical genres of late 19th century American culture. Born around 1897 in Midwestern American cities — St. Louis, Chicago, Sedalia — it fuses European musical traditions (march forms, waltz, polka) with syncopated rhythms inherited from African-American music to create a piano style immediately recognizable by its syncopated right hand that "rags" — literally tears — the regular rhythm maintained by the left hand in bass notes and chords. This rhythmic tension creates a sensation of irresistible momentum and joyful lightness that made ragtime one of the first popular musics to conquer all of America.
The supreme architect of ragtime is unquestionably Scott Joplin, the African-American composer from Texas whose works — like "Maple Leaf Rag" (1899) and "The Entertainer" (1902) — remain the most celebrated pieces of the genre and standards of the worldwide piano repertoire. Alongside him, James Scott and Joseph Lamb constitute what music history designates as "the three greats of classic ragtime." The genre enjoyed phenomenal popularity between 1897 and 1918, before being gradually eclipsed by nascent jazz, of which it constitutes one of the main harmonic and rhythmic precursors.
On FestT, ragtime representatives include Jelly Roll, who perpetuates the traditions of early 20th century American street music with a contemporary grounding, and The Rigmarollers, a band dedicated to the living preservation of the ragtime repertoire and its associated dances.
FestT lists a handful of festivals specializing in ragtime and the music of the American Belle Époque. These rare events, often driven by music history enthusiasts and ragtime piano virtuosos, offer an authentic dive into a pivotal period of popular music. FestT helps you discover them for a musical experience decidedly off the beaten path.