Scott Joplin Music

Don't listen to all those elitists who gave Zimmerman a negative review- his playing is so unique and full of emotion. Contrary to what others have said, Zimmerman's tempo is much slower and better than many other artists' tempos. Though he doesn't play everything true to the sheet music, I feel that he wonderfully captures the spirit of ragtime. If you listen to some of Joplin's own recordings (via player piano), you will find that he himself added some jazzy improvisations. Although Zimmerman makes some mistakes, it somehow seems to add authenticity to his interpretation. The bad sound quality also adds this unique feeling of authenticity. Everything--his style, the piano, the sound quality--works together to create a truly wonderful recording. If you want a comprehensive, beautifully played, rendition of Joplin's works, then I highly recommend this box set!

I enjoy the chronologically arrangement of tracks. It's interesting to see the evolution of Joplin's style.

I've always been a fan of ragtime, but not particularly an expert. This artist is either playing a completely faithful rendition of the music, or he stutters sometimes. This does not detract from the music at all, it's probably just the artist's playing style.

The set is jam-packed with pieces I've never heard before, so it was quite an experience. The last disc in particular features an opera-style suite!

Adds welcome diversity to my Classic Rock collection. Understand that this isn't the last word on Joplin - it's more like a really good first. It's not a complete work-up, with quartet accompaniment, like Marvin Hamlisch's "The Sting" soundtrack. It's just Zimmerman on piano, and sometimes he doesn't play so great. I mean, if you compare "The Entertainer" between the two - you'll think you fell off a cliff.

However, it is a complete Joplin - 66 songs, including every major Rag and other stuff, such as waltzes, marches, and pieces of "Treemonisha", his failed opera. What I wanted was a player piano, with a complete set of paper scrolls, you know what I'm talking about? Even if I could find one, I can't afford it. Maybe this is the next best thing?

So I definitely recommend it for the Joplin novice - it's something to strongly encourage. But is this the last Joplin you'll ever buy? I doubt it - it's merely adequate, not great. Joplin for 40 cents a pop, you won't find a better value.

Well done, with the only drawback that Joshua Rifkind is not at the piano. Sometimes the pace is too frenetic.

This is a wonderful collection of Scott Joplin's music. Delightful to own, to play over and over and over.

i never received this cd - please advise how to search - thank you
phone 480 837 7910 / cell 480 861 5918

These renditions of the Joplin rags and other pieces for solo piano are not only complete, but they seem to this Jopin fan to be faithful in spirit and (for the most part) in letter to the originals. The tempos are appropriate and the amount of elaboration (always a temptation for a skilled pianist) is kept to a minimum. Thus the spirit and genius of Joplin is intact and the music is a joy for the listener. Several works that were unfamiliar to me are now on my list of Joplin sheet music to find for my own playing pleasure.

Richard Zimmerman is one of the best interpreters of Scott Joplin. Zimmerman avoids the pitfalls many others have taken by playing Joplin's music too fast and/or too flashy. Zimmerman's tempos are moderate and his ornamentation/improvisaion is tasteful. By not trying to be a "show off", Zimmerman keeps to the original spirit of Joplin's music. Although the original recording itself may be close to 30 years old, it has transferred well to CD. I highly recommend this disc to anyone who is interested in Ragtime and American music.

Excellent collection - but there are re-sellers listed here that are selling this for as much $50 or $60. Yikes, most major retailers are selling this complete set for $18 - so beware.

May I offer a suggestion to those who feel that the music is trite and all the same? Do not listen to this collection or any other collection (e.g. John Arpin's or Joshua Rifkin's) of ragtime in the order the pieces are recorded on the CDs, especially if you're not very familiar with ragtime. The pieces are often given chronologically or in alphabetical order. Also, don't listen to too many pieces all at once. Pick two, three, or at most four to become acquainted with first. This way you'll be able to appreciate the individual characteristics of the pieces. Try these four pieces first:

1. Gladiolus Rag
2. Weeping Willow
3. Solace
4. Magnetic Rag

Later you'll discover other gems on your own. When you're first getting to know ragtime, it's probably best to avoid listening to pieces that have been done to death (and often done poorly or played way too fast), like "The Entertainer" or "Maple Leaf Rag."

My husband, an Englishman, one day announced he'd heard the most incredible music by Scott Joplin. I bought this CD for him, and he's really enjoyed listening.

]I have loved Joshua Rifkin's [[ASIN:B000005IYF Scott Joplin: Piano Rags]interpretations of Joplin's Rags for (to date myself) decades, and love his interpretations. But it's just one one album. And I loved Joplin. And I saw this: all his piano music, price more than reasonable. And asked myself: How bad can it be?
Answer: not bad. In fact excellent. I don't like a very, very few of Arpin's readings: Maple Leaf Rag, as some people have already reported, is done for speed. It was typical of the time, and I think Arpin did it as an exhibit of what people often heard. But Maple Leaf is an isolated example. For the most part, the tempos are leisurely, with beautifully orchestrated mini-hesitations and accelerations. Magnetic Rag is a test piece: it's one of the best pieces of music ever written by an American, and Arpin has it totally. Likewise Solace. Hesitater, go for it: you'll be glad you did. You may not like 100 percent, but you'll be very happy anyway.

The musical renditions on this CD will transport you back to another, simpler time and place. I enjoyed listening to this very much.

We love this collection and it came at such a reasonable price. Our ten month old also seems to enjoy it, especially "Maple Leaf Rag".

Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin
This CD collection of Scott Joplin's piano music is a treasure. I am a lifetime afficionado of Scott Joplin music, and this is the most enjoyable rendering of his piano works that I have found. John Arpin is superb in his performance. It seems obvious to me that he also treasures Joplin's compositions, because he plays them with great fun and expressiveness, and because he is true to and respectful of the original works. The occasional embellishments added by the performer are tasteful and completely in keeping with the originals. Listening to this collection over and over has inspired me to learn to play all the music it contains. Anyone thinking these pieces are redundant or very similar to all the others, has not listened to them enough. Perhaps this is a genre certain critics don't really appreciate. I admit, I initially had difficulty learning which song was which when listening, but as I learned each better I have come to discern the subtle and distinctive personalities of each. I was reminded by one critic's remarks of the line in "Amadeus" when the Emperor told the composer Mozart that his piece simply had "too many notes." I think each of Joplin's compositions adds something unique to the body of his works.

As a fan of ragtime since high school (I'm 53 now) I have to say that Arpin really understands Joplin better than most; he gives his interpretations that little extra "oomph" that ragtime needs. Unlike the classical types, Rifkin foremost among them, he realizes that ragtime was originally dance and dance hall music, and plays it with a consistent tempo and strong rhythmic conviction, which is something most pianists don't do. However, as a composer myself, I have to say I am sometimes dismayed by the liberties he takes with the actual notes that Joplin himself wrote! Playing a passage an octave lower or an octave higher than it was originally written may not seem like much, but it changes the whole character of the music. And that's not the least of Arpin's transgressions; if you look at the original sheet music you'll see just how much he changed in his "interpretation". Sure, you can go back to the original piano roll versions, but, given a choice, do you really want to listen to a machine? Great for historical purposes maybe, but . . .
SO here's my question; is this the price we have to pay to get a decent
version of Scott Joplin's rags? Maybe so.

Levine plays the best he can to intend approach the essential spirit of the Rag. But he lacks of that special rapture in the expression and plays extremely over polished without those little imperfections and disaffections involved in the this genre.
The Rag is -in certain harmonies- a sadness that, being incapable to cry, smiles.

Very pleased with this CD. An opportunity to hear Joplin's music the way he wanted it to sound, as he would have played the notes himself.

The first three tracks of this CD are audio recordings from piano rolls cut by Scott Joplin himself in April and May of 1916. They are excellent and give any pianist great insight as to how Joplin meant the pieces to be played, both in terms of tempo and phrasing. Joplin also includes embellishments that are not reflected in the printed sheet music. These recordings are thus great resources for advanced pianists ready for bigger challenges.

The remaining tracks are unfortunately rather mechanical and lifeless -- at least when contrasted to those played by Joplin himself. For this reason, I rate the CD at only four stars. Nonetheless, I strongly recommend the CD to anyone who is serious about playing Scott Joplin's pieces or simply loves his music.

Like on the other Biograph CD of Joplin's work,"Elite syncopations",we are sure that Scott Joplin (1868-1917) plays on the first three rolls.The others were produced in the sixties by a collector,Mr Hal Boulware.Once again,Joplin's talent for writing explodes in each tune; of course, there are well known themes,"maple leaf rag" and "the entertainer";but to me, these tunes,although everyone knows them since "the sting" was filmed,are not Joplin's best efforts.Listen to the beautiful melodies of "weeping willow rag","the easy winners",or "Bethena".Part of "the ragtime dance" has been included in Scott Joplin's greatest and desperate effort,an opera called "Treemonisha",which doesn't seem to be reissued on CD.This is great old time music,with a particular flavor of melancholy and timeless feeling.And even if it seems far from jazz,it's one of jazz's roots,and before that, a great moment in the history of music.

This is as PLAIN a Ragtime CD as I've ever heard. No frills, no added notes, no interpretation going on here. Not everyone would like this style-without-a-style, but for me it's the best. I like to listen to these recordings with the sheet music in front of me, to see whether I can catch every note. (OK, so I do the same thing with Palestrina...I'm too left-brained to appreciate music the way musical people do.)
If you enjoy the solace of great ragtime, get a Joshua Rifkin or Dick Hyman CD. But if you crave the essence of Joplin's genius in the straightest, blandest form possible, this is the CD for you.
Also, don't dismiss the possibility of listening to a track on this CD, then on the Rifkin CD to develop a keener appreciation of Rifkin's unparalleled Joplin style. "Bethena" is a good one for this, as Rifkin brings so much PASSION to his interpretation. Well, a mechanical piano roll is not going to do that....

This disc is a real gem, with its companion "Elite Syncopation".The original rolls are executed with a vintage piano-reproducer Welte-Steinway 1910, and performed part by Scott Joplin himself (six pieces in total for the two CD)and part by other period pianists.
It is a journey in the earth of American Classic Music, the link between the european salon music and the afro american traditional, with a strong classical compositional background as Scott Joplin himself was proud to say. You can listen to it with the real performing style and with an original piano.
A revelation.

I heard this CD on National Public Radio, and had to stop the car to write down the guitarist's name! I bought volume 3, loved it, and immediately bought the other two. Giovanni De Chiaro, a superb guitarist, knows his composer and brings out all the intense feelings and sweetness of Joplin's ragtime.... I highly recommend it. I appreciated, too, the record company's detailed description and history of every song.