Ragtime as a musical direction finally developed at the beginning of the 20th century. This style was popular for a very short time - a little over twenty years (from 1900 to 1918), but became the basis for the musical trends that exist to this day, in particular jazz music. It was from ragtime that improvisations borrowed a heterogeneous rhythm, a kind of “torn-off”, “fragmentary” melodies.
He is played exclusively on the piano, but orchestral interpretations were not previously excluded. Of all the variety of musical instruments in America, it was the piano that became the source of this musical direction. However, this game was far from traditional romantic melodies, it was built on different principles. Ragtime is a harsh piano sound. It is distinguished by special rhythmic accents.
Ragtime - what is this phenomenon?
Style began to emerge in the Midwest in the United States in the provincial environment of the black population of America. It is characterized by bright piano notes, sounding in an African American hue, with characteristic improvisations. Gradually, ragtime moved to large cities. Professional composers began to seriously engage in this style. Music began to record notes. Ragtime began to be performed by venerable virtuoso pianists. In those days, in many houses of America there was certainly a piano, which was the reason for the rapid spread of the ragtime music style. Thus, ragtime from villages and provinces broke into the most famous world pop scenes.
Tom Terpin is one of the first composers and pianists who took up the ragtime style and designed it in a concert independent form. He gave the style a strict organic form, added contrasting shades and moods and combined all this into a single harmonious whole. The direction was picked up by Scott Joplin, this musician played a significant role in the formation of traditional foundations.
Ragtime is a dance
Classical style lost its popularity over time, as it interfered with the freedom of improvisation. The moment was taken into account by Jelly Roll Morton. He developed a special piano technique. From that moment on, style began to flow gently into jazz. But ragtime is also something like an African American dance. His prototype was a keycock. We are talking about the dance of black slaves, characterized by sharp abrupt movements. The musicians tried to adapt to the dancers, resulting in a few "ragged" rhythms. Hence the name.
Merger
Ragtime is a union of diverse styles; blues notes and even elements of brass band marches are heard here. This dance form has a size of two or four quarters, while in odd beats the bass is struck, and in even ones the chords sound. Some dance compositions combine several musical themes at once.
Output
Over time, ragtime has become a trendy salon ballroom dance. Based on this style, such directions as foxtrot and swing were born. In 1960, ragtime was internationally recognized as a separate musical genre. Nowadays, there are many fans of this amazing direction. His story has not died out completely, it continues in our time. Ragtime is a very distinctive phenomenon, and now you know what its features are. It remains to add only a few interesting facts.
The hit single Plush of the rock band called Stone Temple Pilots was created thanks to the enthusiasm of the bass player of the ragtime band. This can be seen in the structure of the song, its construction and chords. Minstrels, which were made up for African-Americans, first became popular back in 1848.