Ragtime Research Paper

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Ragtime is an American style, originating in the southern states in the mid-to late 1800s. It was named in reference to the “time” in which it is played (like waltz-time, march-time, etc). Rag refers to the broken melody in which it is written. Breaking up a rhythm was known as ragging. Ragtime is defined as a “genre of musical composition for the piano, generally in duple meter and containing a highly syncopated treble lead over a rhythmically steady bass”. Like rock’n’roll, it was, in its beginnings, especially popular among the young people of the time. The syncopation of the style made people feel a “musical looseness” that was basically unheard of at that time. As a result it was initially unpopular with older people who preferred more traditional classic genres. …show more content…
It’s presence in saloons is another reason or it’s initial unpopularity. Often written in 2/4 time, the music gives off a sort of “short-long-short” rhythm, not really appearing until the mid 1880s. It originated largely from uneducated and self taught musicians including slaves and country people from the southern United States. Popular instruments for playing ragtime included the banjo, guitar, and fiddle. These particular instruments were so popular because they could be so easily transported by travelling musicians. Despite this, by the time ragtime was published in the 1890s, it gained all of its popularity on the piano. It was written almost exclusively as piano arrangements. Ragtime was written for the piano, written to be played for an audience rather than for dancing, making it different from other similar syncopated styles that were made for dancing.The style was not often written, but simply played by people who seemed to have a talent for

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