Scott Joplin Music

I thought I was familiar with Scott Joplin's ragtime piano music, but Paul Schoenfield really opened my ears with these renditions. He has a gift for ragtime piano that makes you sit up and pay attention. Simply the best renditions of these tunes that I've ever heard.

The price is beyond right-and you just might want to check out 'The Sting' or 'Ragtime' after listening to the great pianist Paul Schoenfield's interpretation of Scott Joplin's classics.The real bonus here,I think,is Gershwin-played by Gershwin.These are some of his lesser known tunes-and the sound quality is incredible.

I remember as a child putting on the album of Scott Joplin's music and listening to "The Entertainer" over and over. I'm 30 and listen to a lot of mainsteam music but this has quality that will last forever. Makes you wish you lived in the swingin' age.

What a hoot this old time up-tempo piano music is ! One can picture feet in high button shoes dancing to it, or Charlie Chaplin doing a hilarious routine.
The Scott Joplin pieces: These are ragtime compositions played to absolute perfection by composer/pianist Paul Schoenfield (who some have called "the new Gershwin"), on a "honkey tonk" piano.
Favorites include "The Maple Leaf Rag", and "Solace". The latter is not only the longest piece on this CD at 4:24, but also the slowest. It has a lilting melody, and a varying rhythm that make it interesting, and Schoenfield plays it with mastery, and a lot of emotion.

The George Gershwin pieces: Gershwin plays his own works, taken from the Duo-Art piano rolls. He made 140 player piano rolls between the years 1915 and 1927, and the sound quality of what is on this CD will astound you, as it is terrific.
Gershwin's ragtime music is probably the least heard of his works, and therefore a treat to hear, especially since he is playing them. Perhaps my favorite is "Sweet and Lowdown", but there is not a single track on this entire CD that is not a winner.

This is a budget recording that is a rare gem, because though they do not list who the performers are on the outside of the CD, one not only gets superb artistry from great pianists, but excellent sound as well; if you like ragtime, you will love it. Total time is 40:51.

People who wish to start their day in a happy mood should rush to order this CD! Peskanov has shown us once again how gifted he is regardless of the style of music he chooses to perform.Listen to his previously released Naxos CD of the Brahms Violin and Piano Sonatas as an example.
In the Joplin CD he treats the slower rags with his gift of melodic interpretation and the faster ones with his outstanding rhythmic energy.
I feel certain Joplin himself would have enjoyed Peskanov's fresh and delightful rendition!

Reviews of these perfomances seem to divide into those who decry Peskanov's alleged lack of authenticity, and those who appreciate his fresh and original approach to these pieces. I grew up with the Rifkin performances, which remain "standard," but Alexander Peskanov tranforms these pieces to the deepest art. The performance of Solace evokes the pathos of Chopin and the melodic invention of Schubert. I agree with David Boyce that it surely is the finest of all recorded versions of this haunting piece.
Of course one isn't going to agree with every tempo choice, but one cannot deny the thought and integrity of the interpretations--one hears new things with each performance. Just as one can prefer Rubinstein to Horowitz in Chopin (or Serkin to Perahia or Uchida in Schubert), one learns and hears something new and different in each interpretation. We are fortunate to have a range of interpreters.
Peskanov brings a new depth and creative energy to these pieces, infusing them with poetic beauty redolent of the Romantics, but uniquely American at the same time. Let's give up on the idea of a single "definitive" or "authentic" performance. Peskanov's voicing, his choice of repeats, the sheer warmth of his sound --the sonic quality of this recording dwarfs previous efforts--all deserve the highest praise. Many other recordings sound as if they were recorded on a tinny upright--"authentic" perhaps, but not "definitive"!
Peskanov brings out both the joy and pathos of this music. Rather than the "self-indulgence" criticized by one reviewer, I find a rich and musical sensibility that most music lovers will appreciate and applaud. You will be glad to have this recording. Scott Joplin: Piano Rags

For someone who considers Joshua Rifkin's 1970s recordings of Joplin's rags to be the gold standard of their performance, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy this CD. Peskanov is obviously an accomplished pianist, so there's no lack of technique here, but the fun of this CD comes in how he embellishes each rag to make it his own. Sometimes said embellishment goes over the top (I don't think Elite Syncopations really needed that third repeat of the last strain), but in general these performances inject a lot of levity into a form of music whose formulaic structure can turn it stolid upon repeated listenings. Interestingly enough, after his hell-for-leather "Maple Leaf Rag," Peskanov relaxes the tempi and the mood of many of the rest of the selections on this CD. In a lot of instances, they actually sound more mellow than the aforementioned Rifkin recordings. This isn't profound Joplin by any means, but it's the kind of Joplin the pianist at the bar might be playing as you took your seat - relaxing and fun.

All that said, I want to second what other reviewers have mentioned: This CD does NOT represent a historically accurate rendition of Joplin's music, and as such it should not be your first or only recording of these pieces. The fun comes at the expense of breaking several conventions Joplin was very clear on: Don't play ragtime fast, play it exactly as written, etc. I'd recommend this CD only if you already own a more definitive recording of these works, such as the aforementioned Rifkin (on the Nonesuch label, ASIN B000005IYF). I've also been very pleased with Richard Zimmerman's Joplin recordings - he embellishes beyond Joplin's stated intentions as well, but he nonetheless stays truer to the original spirit of these works.

Bottom line is, this CD is thickly frosted cake, and while we all love cake, you need to have your meat and potatoes first. However, as long as you've heard a "truer" recording of these pieces, go ahead and indulge in Peskanov's interpretations. At this price, it's hardly a risk.

I have to agree with every said by Vladimir Pavlov.

This is a very fine Joplin CD. Peskanov plays Joplin's music "as wrote", but beautifully phrased and with occasional, entirely appropriate, small embellishments.

Peskanov brigns out all the beauty in the music. It isn't wrong to do so - Joplin put it in there. The performances here have both vigour and elegance, from a pianist evidently completely technically competent, and manifestly enjoying and respecting the music.

The rendition of Solace here is the finest I've heard.

It's worth mentioning too that the piano used is top-notch, and very nicely tuned and voiced. Nice to see that the technician, Ted Campbell, gets credit on the rear cover.

This is as fine a treatment as Joplin could have wished for his music, and it is what it deserves.

Rifkin, Hyman, Albright and other good Joplin perfomers notwithstanding, (not forgetting the fine new comprehensive set from Guido Nielson on the Basta label) this is surely the finest single-CD Joplin recording out.

This past week, I heard Alexander Peskanov perform Scott Joplin's "Pleasant Moments" on WUOT 91.9. I heard Peskanov performing his own concerto for two pianos live - what a crowd-pleaser! But I never knew that he had an interest in Joplin's rags. I was pleasantly surprised to hear his expertise in this genre, and immediately decided to order the CD. Can't wait to hear this one!!

Music is great, as is the playing. However, the last song is not Magnetic Rag but rather the same version of Maple Leaf Rag heard earlier on the album.

What is with that?

Rich, yet not cloying
Aggressive, yet reflective
Bouncy, yet wistfully romantic
Robert Strickland transports the soul of Scott Joplin's Ragtime
Scott and I smile.

I had previously purchased a Scott Joplin CD and was disappointed by the dull quality and dispirited playing by the artist. This CD more than makes up for it. The music was beautifully performed and the recording was very clear. Every piece was perfect!