2 – RAGTIME

"White music - played black."

Joachim Berendt - The Jazz Book (1976)

Ragtime was the first black music style to be accepted by whites and it was also the first to become commercially successful. Ragtime reflected the social progress and aspirations of a better educated generation of black musicians, directly the result of urban living.

It was a spontaneous piano based music usually written during performance. However, once a particular piece had been defined, it was seldom improvised upon, later being notated. Ragtime, unlike most other contemporary black music styles, shunned improvisation of any kind, adhering to strict European traditions since its development came about through the influence of the Creoles. Based on a syncopated march beat, ragtime was a joyful mixture of black work songs and European traditional music, also encompassing several dance rhythms such as the jig, two-step and quadrille. It was termed "ragged" simply because of its extremes in syncopation. Technically, it can be defined as four 16 bar themes arranged systematically with specific harmonic relationships.

Ragtime was initially popularized by wandering black piano players who called themselves "perfessors" or "ivory ticklers." Although definitely an upscale music form, it would forever be associated with its places of origin - the saloons, brothels and gin-joints of St. Louis and New Orleans.

The popularity of piano rags spread throughout Missouri and consequently most of the South. New ragtime dance styles were created to coincide with the music. The American public first discovered ragtime music in 1893 at The Chicago World Fair and by 1896, a very light skinned black called Ben Harney was appearing at Tony Pastor's 14th Street Theatre in New York City, billed unrealistically as "The Inventor Of Ragtime." The first appearance of ragtime on sheet music came with the publishing of "My Ragtime Baby" by Fred S. Stone in 1893 and in January of 1897, "Missouri Rag" by William Krills became the first piano rag to be copyrighted. Then in September of 1899, Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" sold well over 400,000 copies and everyone immediately jumped on the ragtime bandwagon. Several other black ragtime pianist/ composers achieving notoriety included Otis Saunder, Jesse Pickett and Joplin protégés James Scott, Scott Hayden and Arthur Marshall. None however, were able to match the impact of their mentor.

Ragtime piano had been taught to Scott Joplin by Louis Chauvin who had allegedly perfected the art. Piano rags had actually been played in Sedalia and St. Louis years before when the style in its earliest form had been labelled "jig piano." Later, small combos featuring five string banjos, harmonicas, washboards, empty liquor jugs, fiddles and various homemade percussion instruments played a primitive form of ragtime. Originally, they were called jigbands or jugbands and later when ragtime became commercially successful, it was played by larger ensembles featuring more conventional instrumentation.

In 1905, French impressionist composer Claude-Achille Debussy incorporated ragtime syncopation into his "Golliwog Cakewalk." However, it was white Tin Pan Alley songwriter Irving Berlin who took ragtime to the masses with his 1911 composition, "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Although not technically ragtime, the use of the term spread like wildfire causing almost any rhythmic music to be labelled ragtime. Classical composer Igor Stravinsky saluted ragtime with his "Ragtime For Eleven Instruments"(1918) and "Piano-rag Music"(1920).

A list of classic ragtime pieces would not be complete without the inclusion of Egbert Van Alstyne's "Easy Pickin's"(1902), Bob Cole's "Under The Bamboo Tree"(1902), Tom Turpin's "St. Louis Rag"(1903) and Charles Johnson's "Porcupine Rag"(1909). And between 1910 and 1920, some of the best novelty rags were written by Felix Arndt and Zez Confrey. One interesting ragtime vocal recording was "King Of The Bungaloos" by Gene Greene (Feb., 1911), which featured an odd combination of pig Latin, vocaleese and pre-Louis Armstrong scatting.

Ragtime had definitely helped promote the popularity of rhythm and syncopation in American music and the ballroom dance phenomenon had come on its coattails. But by the late teens, a more adventurous black music form called jazz had began to eclipse ragtime's popularity. Actually, ragtime never really died, it simply permeated various other succeeding music styles. Also, the phonograph record had superseded the parlor piano and helped push ragtime out of the spotlight. It took a movie called "The Sting" (1974) and a hit version of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer," recorded by Marvin Hamlisch to create a renewed interest in ragtime, reminding the public of Joplin's importance in American music history. In 1996, a Broadway musical titled "Ragtime" captured the flavour of the ragtime era.

THE CAKEWALK

The cakewalk was "the" ragtime dance. It began as a tongue-in-cheek poke at white snobbery and the so-called upper crust. A dance of endurance, the body was bent backward, legs kicking in time with the on-beat, tipping the hat and swinging a cane. The higher the kicker, the better the dancer. Often the music would increase in tempo until it was almost impossible to keep up. Dance routines featuring haughty airs and high attitudes could become quite elaborate.

The origin of its name came from the main prize given at early dance contests......a cake. It was introduced commercially to whites by the vaudeville team Genaro and Bailey at a Georgia camp meeting and first presented in Europe by Vernon and Irene Castle.

VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE

• Vernon Castle (Vernon Blythe) (May 2, 1887 - Feb. 15, 1918).
• Dancer/vaudevillian born in Norwich, Norfolk, England.
• Irene Castle (Irene Foote) (April 7, 1893 - Jan. 25, 1969).
• Dancer/actress born in New Rochelle, New York.
• White dance duo who rose to prominence as the main exponents of ballroom dancing during the early part of the 20th century.
• 1906 - Vernon Castle came to America where he met and later married Irene Foote on May 28, 1911.
• They helped popularize ragtime dancing by introducing the cakewalk to international audiences. They also introduced their own invention - the Castle walk which became a dance phenomenon. - The Castles brought American music to Europe, taking the continent by storm and promoting the fad of ballroom dancing worldwide.
• 1913 - After their initial impact at a casino in Deauville, France, they returned to New York to appear in the musical, "Sunshine Girl."
• 1914 - Formed their own band, (an all-black orchestra) under the direction of James Europe (James Reese Europe) (Feb. 22, 1881 - May 9, 1919), the first black bandleader to be recorded.
• 1914 - They wrote the definitive book of dance steps, "Modern Dance," founded The Vernon Castle School Of Dancing and began touring North America. Castlemania had begun. Hundreds of products flooded the market bearing the Castle name. When Irene Castle bobbed her hair, American women followed suit. The Castles were major trendsetters in the teens, perfecting many other dance fads such as the foxtrot (actually originated by Harry Fox), the quickstep, the hesitation waltz, the tango and the Castle maxixe.
• With the expertise of The James Reese Europe's Society Orchestra, the Castles turned W. C. Handy's "Memphis Blues" into the accompaniment for the foxtrot.
• Feb. 15, 1918 - Vernon Castle died in a plane crash. Strangely enough, his death coincided with the end of the ragtime era.

MAJOR RAGTIME ARTISTS

SCOTT JOPLIN

• (Nov. 24, 1868 - April 1, 1917).
• Pianist/cornetist/composer born in Texarkana, Texas.
• Born into poverty.
• 1875 - Age 7, Joplin learned to play on an old out of tune piano his mother had acquired. A local music teacher realizing his potential, gave him formal instruction.
• 1982 - Age 14, after the death of his mother, he travelled throughout Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, playing piano in brothels and honky tonks.
• 1885 - Age 17, he settled in St. Louis where he remained for the next 3 years. There he met pianist Louis Chauvin who introduced him to ragtime music. It was here that he began composing and formed a series of bands with which he played piano and cornet.
• Sept., 1899 - Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" (named after The Maple Leaf Club in Sedalia), written in 1897 sold over 400,000 copies of sheet music, eventually passing the million mark. It triggered a national ragtime craze and established him as the undisputed "King Of Ragtime Pianists." One of the earliest recordings of the piece was by the U.S. Marine Band (March, 1907)#13.
• He proceeded to compose over 30 rags including "Sunflower Rag," "Swipsy," "Peacherine Rag," "Magnetic Rag," "The Cascade"(1904) and his classic "The Entertainer"(1902).
• Joplin wrote a ballet called "Ragtime Dance."
• 1903 - Completed the book and music for his ragtime opera, "The Guest Of Honour" which was only performed once in St. Louis.
• 1908 - His book, "The School Of Ragtime" was published.
• 1911-1915 - Joplin and his wife Lottie ran a boarding house at 252 W. 47th St. in New York City.
• 1915 - Published his opera, "Treemonisha," a 230 page score which was a commercial failure. In 1971, it debuted in Atlanta, Georgia featuring an all black cast organized by Katherine Dunham.
• Over the years, Joplin had developed what was then called "the shadow plague," now known as Syphilis - Dementia Paralytica.
• 1916 - Committed to a mental institution where he remained until his death on April 1, 1917.
• Before his death, he had destroyed a vast amount of his work.
• It must be noted that Joplin did not make any recordings but fortunately his piano rolls were later transferred to disc.
• March, 1974 - A version of Joplin's "The Entertainer," recorded by Marvin Hamlisch went to #3 nationally. It had been featured in the film, "The Sting" and created a renewed if not brief interest in ragtime music.
• 1976 - Portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in the biopic, "Scott Joplin."

EUBI BLAKE

• James Hubert Blake (Feb. 7, 1883 - Feb. 12, 1983).
• Pianist/composer born in Baltimore, Maryland.
• The son of former slaves whose previous 10 children had all died at birth.
• 1889 - Age 6, his mother bought him a $75 organ. Blake actually perfected his ragtime piano skills as a child.
• After playing in bordellos from the age of 16, he began composing.
• 1899 - Composed "Charleston Rag," his first ragtime tune but didn't set it down on paper until 1915 when he learned to write musical notation.
• When asked why he used so many black notes in his songs, he replied, "Down South where I come from, you don't go round hittin' too many white keys."
• 1914 - While playing with Joe Porter's Serenaders, he teamed with singer/bandleader/lyricist Noble Sissle (July 10, 1889 - Dec. 17, 1975), his partner for 50 years. Together they toured in vaudeville as The Dixie Duo and wrote songs for artists such as Sophie Tucker.
• Songs together include "Good Night Angeline," "Love Will Find A Way," "You Were Meant For Me" and "Picaninny Shoes."
• 1921 - Their biggest success came when Florence Mills introduced their classic "I'm Just Wild About Harry" in the all black revue, "Shuffle Along." It became Harry S. Truman's election song in 1948.
• 1927 - Sissle took his band to Europe leaving Blake to write with his new partner, lyricist Andy Razaf. Together they composed the haunting "Memories Of You" and "You're Lucky To Me" which were introduced by the great Ethel Waters in the show, "The Blackbirds Of 1930."
• 1959 - Released the album, "The Wizard Of Ragtime Piano."
• 1969 - Released "The 86 Years Of Eubie Blake" album for Columbia.
• 1971 - Enjoyed a brief comeback capped by the 1978 Broadway revue, "Eubie" which celebrated his music.
• Jan., 1983 - A TV special honoring his 100th birthday was filmed at Washington's Kennedy Center.
• Other hits include "Bandana Days"(Nov., 1921)#8, "Arkansas Blues" (Jan., 1922)#10 and "Down-Hearted Blues"(Sept., 1923)#13. It must be noted that these are hit recordings by and not necessarily written by Blake.

JAMES SCOTT

• James Sylvester Scott (1886 - Aug. 3, 1938).
• Pianist/composer from Neohoso, Missouri.
• Cousin of singer Ada Brown.
• A disciple of Scott Joplin, his home base was Carthage in southwest Missouri.
• 1903 - Dumars Publishing Company issued 2 of his pieces, "A Summer Breeze" and "Fascinator." He remained an employee of the company for 12 years.
• 1904 - Published his "On The Pike March."
• 1909 - After visiting St. Louis to meet Scott Joplin, he composed "The Great Scott Rag."
• 1909 - Published his "Hilarity Rag."
• 1914 - After publishing his "Climax Rag," he moved to Kansas City, married and settled down, making a living as a music teacher.
• 1922 - Wrote his last composition, "Broadway Rag."
• Aug. 30, 1938 - Died in Springfield of chronic dropsy.

JOSEPH LAMB

• Joseph Francis Lamb (1887 - 1960)
• Pianist/composer from Montclair, New Jersey.
• Although white, he was thought to be black since his music had a distinct negro feel to it.
• 1907 - Began writing ragtime, stating that the highlight of his life was meeting Scott Joplin.
• 1908 - Published his "Sensation Rag."
• 1919 - His last rag was "Bohemian Rag."
• He lived out the rest of his life in Brooklyn, New York.
• Other compositions include "Ethiopia Rag"(1909), "Cleopatra Rag" (1910), "Top Liner Rag"(1916), "Hot Cinders," "Patricia Rag," "Continental Rag" and "American Beauty Rag."

BEN HARNEY

• (1872 - Feb. 28, 1938)
• Singer/songwriter/pianist from Middleboro, Kentucky.
• Often thought to be white because of his light skin.
• During the 1890's, he helped spread the gospel of ragtime in New York City.
• 1895 - Toured with a minstrel troupe and published his first hit, "You've Been A Good Old Wagon But You Done Broke Down."
• 1896 - Starred in vaudeville, singing his own songs and appeared at Tony Pastor's 14th Street Theatre in New York City, billed unrealistically as "The Inventor Of Ragtime."
• 1896 - His song, "Mister Johnson Turn Me Loose" was stolen by Harry Green.
• 1899 - His ragtime classic, "Cakewalk In The Sky" became a hit.
• 1923 - Made his last vaudeville appearance.
• Feb. 28, 1938 - Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

FELIX ARNDT

• (1889 - 1918)
• Pianist/composer/bandleader from New York City.
• Among his famous compositions was "Nola"(1915), which was dedicated to singer/pianist Nola Locke (1889 - 1977).
• Hits include "Marionette," "Soup To Nuts" and "Toots."

ZEZ CONFREY

• Edward Elzear Confrey (1895 - 1972)
• Pianist/composer/bandleader from Peru, Illinois.
• Established himself first in vaudeville.
• 1915 - Organized his own touring orchestra.
• July, 1922 - His much recorded hit song, "Stumbling" became a #1 hit for Paul Whiteman.
• Feb. 12, 1924 - Introduced his classic "Kitten On The Keys" at The Aeolian Hall with The Paul Whiteman Orchestra, the same evening that George Gershwin introduced "Rhapsody In Blue." The piece went to #5 in June, 1921 and again in July, 1922.
• Oct., 1927 - The recording of his self penned "Dizzy Fingers" went to #18.

ARTIE MATTHEWS

• (1888 - 1959)
• Pianist/composer born in Minonk, Illinois.
• Raised in Springfield.
• 1904 - Age 16, played at The St. Louis Fair.
• Matthews and Tom Turpin collaborated on much of the music for the shows presented at The Booker T. Washington Theater in St. Louis (all of it now lost).
• 1912 - Began arranging and publishing for other composers.
• Composed 8 pieces he called "Pastime Rags."
• 1915 - Composed his famous "Weary Blues."
• He later turned to teaching, founding The Cosmopolitan Conservatory Of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• He refused to ever play ragtime again.

JOSHUA RIFKIN

• (April 22, 1944 – )
• Pianist/musicologist born in New York City.
• Studied at Juilliard School Of Music.
• During the 1960's, he was the pianist/kazoo player for Even Dozen Jug Band.
• 1966 - Put together "The Baroque Beatles Songbook" LP.
• During the 1970's, popularized ragtime with a series of Scott Joplin albums in 3 volumes.

ALSO SEE

• Chapter 3: Jazz

BIBLIOGRAPHY