Scott Joplin   

Scott Joplin was born in Texas, America during 1868.  Prejudice against African Americans was still generally quite aggressive.  Joplin’s birth was not registered, but is often accepted that he was born in July of 1867 – although he could have been born anywhere in the following 6 months of that date.  Both Joplin’s parents were musical, but they were poor.  His father had been a slave and his mother was a domestic maid. 

    When Joplin’s talents were showing at 4 years of age, his mother found work cleaning houses where Joplin was allowed to play the piano.  A German piano teacher recognised Joplin’s ability and gave him free piano lessons, teaching him about the form and style of Classical Music.  These foundations were important for his later compositions.  When Joplin was 15 years old, his mother had finally saved enough money to buy him his own piano. 

    In his early twenties, Joplin joined a number of travelling bands and vocal groups, singing and playing cornet, violin and piano.  It was sometime during this time that he began composing small parlour songs – pieces that everyone would join in and sing. 

Ragtime music was first written down and published as instrumental arrangement in the late 1890s.  Joplin was one of the first to write music seriously in this genre.  Unfortunately, his earliest works were give an alternative name (that of a white American) when his first publisher put the music to print.  Another publisher was found and a legal contract signed.  In 1899, Joplin published Maple Leaf Rag.  His music was instantly successful and Joplin became famous, moving to the top of the hit list and establishing the style Ragtime.

    Joplin spent time living in St Louis and New York.  During his years in these places, he experienced a variety of ups and major downs.  While his music was very popular, he had great difficulties having any published.  He desperately wanted to write Opera and Classical style music, as this was seen as more sophisticated and legitimate by the American society of the time – the Ragtime showing an African heritage and the Classical based on European heritage.  Many critics have said Joplin’s operas were excellent musically, but they were never acknowledged at the time.

    Joplin died young, in 1917.  His music was quickly forgotten at the time.  However, revival of Ragtime began in the 1940s when groups began searching for the roots of Jazz (now the roots of contemporary music).  Some of Joplin’s music was put to recordings and his operas performed.  In 1970, Joplin was finally recognised as a legitimate composer and included in the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.  In 1976 he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his contribution to American music. 

    These days, Joplin’s music and other Ragtime pieces are included in the lists of sophisticated, Classical status music.  The associated genres are called Rag, cakewalk, two-step and march.  Among Joplin’s best know compositions are Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer, Magnetic Rag, and Pineapple Rag.  

Last modified: April 13, 2009