RIP, Scott Joplin (1868-1917)

Scott Joplin, "The King of Ragtime," died on April 1, 1917, in New York City. He suffered from tertiary syphilis and descended into dementia. He was admitted to a mental institution in January 1917, and died there three months later at the age of 49. Joplin was buried in a pauper's grave, which remained unmarked for 57 years. In 1974, his grave at Saint Michaels Cemetery in East Elmhurst, New York, was finally given a marker.

Joplin blended European classical styles and African American harmonies and rhythm to produce ragtime, a music that, as one critic put it, "expressed the intensity and energy of a modern urban America." While some of Joplin's music (particularly "Maple Leaf Rag") was popular during his lifetime, interest in ragtime waned until its revival in the 1970s, thanks to the efforts of Joshua Rifkin and the use of Joplin's music in the film, "The Sting."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends Scott Joplin 1916 (Biograph). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD:

• Scott Joplin: The Entertainer (Shout Factory), available from Barnes & Noble.
  
• Scott Joplin: Elite Syncopations (Shout Factory), available from Barnes & Noble.
  
• Dick Hyman and James Levine: Scott Joplin's Greatest Hits (RCA), available from Barnes & Noble.
  
• Richard Zimmerman: Scott Joplin — His Complete Works (Delta), available from Barnes & Noble.
  
• Richard Zimmerman: Scott Joplin — His Greatest Hits (Legacy International), available from Barnes & Noble.
  
• Joshua Rifkin: Scott Joplin Piano Rags (Nonesuch), available from Barnes & Noble.
  

The first two albums listed above contain the six piano rolls from Scott Joplin 1916 that are actually played by Joplin. The Entertainer contains "Maple Leaf Rag," "Something Doing," and "Weeping Willow Rag," while Elite Syncopations contains "Maple Leaf Rag," "Ole Miss Rag" [by W.C. Handy], and "Magnetic Rag." Joplin plays "Maple Leaf Rag" via piano roll here:

Robert
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