Description
Published by Joplin himself in 1914, this was the last ragtime he brought out during his lifetime. Its more complex harmony and expanded structure move beyond the straightforward style of his earlier rags, reflecting a mature late compositional voice. The way several themes appear across the piece suggests an ambition to stretch the traditional ragtime mold. Running over twelve minutes with a dense note count, it demands considerable stamina and expressive range, standing as a culmination of his career.
Ragtime pieces centered on Scott Joplin's syncopated rhythms — a lively American genre that helped pave the way for jazz.
Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Scott Joplin (1868-1917)
Scott Joplin was an African American composer born in Texas, known as the "King of Ragtime." Blending syncopated, buoyant rhythms with sophisticated harmony, he brought the genre to national prominence with the enormous success of "Maple Leaf Rag." This site includes 18 of his works, such as "The Entertainer" and "Elite Syncopations."
View all works by Joplin →