Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, [2] is a musical style noted for its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. [1] It originated in African American communities in the late 19th century and was propelled to popularity in the 1890s to 1910s by composers such as James Scott, Joseph Lamb, and particularly Scott Joplin. Known as the "King of Ragtime", Joplin gained fame through compositions like ...
RAGTIME is a sweeping musical adaptation of E.L. Doctorow ’s novel that follows three fictional families in pursuit of the American Dream at the dawn of the 20th Century: Black pianist Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and his beloved Sarah, Jewish immigrant Tateh and his little girl, and a wealthy white family led by matriarch Mother.
Ragtime, propulsively syncopated musical style, one forerunner of jazz and the predominant style of American popular music from about 1899 to 1917. Ragtime evolved in the playing of honky-tonk pianists in the last decades of the 19th century. Its best-known composer was Scott Joplin.
The Ragtime Nightmare by Tom Turpin (St. Louis, MO: Robt. DeYoung & Co., 1900). Performing Arts Reading Room, Library of Congress. Ragtime, a uniquely American, syncopated musical phenomenon, has been a strong presence in musical composition, entertainment, and scholarship for over a century. It emerged in its published form during the mid-1890s and quickly spread across the continent via ...
Carnegie Hall's history of African American Music. Learn more about how ragtime fits into the timeline and the influence of syncopated dance music.
Ragtime was one of the most popular forms of music in the United States between 1897 and 1917. Read the history along with videos and playlists.