RAGTIME
HISTORY OF RAGTIME
Ragtime was a popular music genre from 1896-1920. It was played out when Jazz became popular. It originated in St. Louis Missouri. Ragtime was influenced by minstrel show music and consisted of syncopated dance rhythms from cakewalks. The left hand played the “easy” part while the right hand played the syncopated melody.
CAKEWALK
A cakewalk was originally a slave dance contest performed in the south. White slave owners awarded cakes to the best dancers. The slave dancers were to be seen “mocking” their white slave owners. The slaves dressed in suits, big bowties, and hats. A cakewalk was a slavery parody dance of white southern society. Cakewalks were performed to ragtime music.
RAGTIME ARTISTS
Some popular ragtime artists include Scott Joplin and Eubie Blake. Scott Joplin was known as the “King of Ragtime.” One of his most popular song was “The Maple Leaf Rag.” Eubie Blake or James Hubert Blake began composing ragtime music in 1914. He also wrote broadway shows with his lifelong friend Noble Sissle.
