Ragtime Music

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.

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.

Jazz arranger and stride pianist Dick Hyman has captured the essence of Scott Joplin, playing such classics as "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer," as well as many lesser known but still highly enjoyable tunes. Just like Joplin would say never play a rag too fast, Hyman plays at the perfect tempo, never too fast. Hyman proves not only to be a fine stride painist but a superb ragtime painist. Although there is no improvisation here, ragtime is completely written out, there is plenty of syncopation and joyous sounds here to keep the jazz collector happy. this CD is highly recomended as a great introduction to the music of Scott Joplin and the playing of Dick Hyman.

Also try Dick Hyman's tribute CD to Fats Waller. And if you like Ragtime don't miss out on the incredible Paragon Ragtime Orchestra which re-creates bands like Arthur Pryor's Orchestra from the ragtime era.

Don't get me wrong. Dick Hyman is really great in what he's doing. The pieces are brilliantly performed. But it's not my taste. He's playing 100s of staccatos where Scott Joplin never wrote a point on his sheets thus taking the drive off the songs. Songs and parts of songs that should sound strong just sound way too "dolce". All in all the whole cd is too soft and too slow. Yes, Scott Joplin said never play Ragtime too fast. But songs like the Entertainer or Elite Syncopations should in my opinion be played "faster" to have a drive. I used to play the songs myself. It's just more fun when you play them faster and louder - with more energy.

This cd is for you when you like quiet and mellow music and like to drink tea while listening to it.
If you like barrelhouse music - what ragtime is supposed to be - then buy another cd like "the Sting" soundtrack or Scott Joplin played by Richard Zimmerman.

These are fabulous recordings of Percy Grainger's works for piano and I would recommend this to anyone interested in Grainger. The 5 cds are offered at an excellent value and well worth the money spent.

A super budget 5 CD collection of all of Grainger's Piano music.
Every last note!
The shipping alone would be $17.00+ for the 5 individual Cds.
Englishman Martin Jones plays these as if he wrote them. He is thoroughly inside this music.
I think his best work to date.
He is joined on CD #5 by Richard Mcmahon and Phillip Martin. Where they rollick in various combos and trios on 1, 2 and 3 pianos. This is exhilerating. Especially on an truly uplifting version of Green Bushes.
The entire set is strongly idiomatic and given a clear, crisp, warm and spacious recording. FIRST CLASS sound.
There are too many highlights to single out, but the In A Nutshell Suite and Green Bushes are especially GOOD!
There is not a bad note or "vibe" on any of these CDs.
Highly recommended for Granger fans and fans of English Piano Music.