Ragtime

Ragtime music is a uniquely American genre. It developed in Black communities in the south during the end of the nineteenth century and has roots in the rhythmic traditions of African and Caribbean music. No less an authority than Scott Joplin declared that “ragtime should never be played fast”, a statement which not only reveals Joplin’s musical intention, but also suggests that there were musicians of his time who did play it fast. The appeal of Ragtime extended quickly beyond the borders of the US, and it influenced classical European composers like Satie, Debussy and Stravinsky.