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Ragtime

Search-Light Rag

Scott Joplin (1907)

DifficultyIntermediate
Duration4:29
Notes2,602

Description

Published in 1907, this ragtime opens with a bright, expansive theme reflecting the assured structural sense of Joplin's middle-period works. Its several sections proceed through contrast, requiring the performer to differentiate each theme's character while keeping the tempo steady. It is a rewarding piece full of memorable moments.

Ragtime pieces centered on Scott Joplin's syncopated rhythms — a lively American genre that helped pave the way for jazz.

Sheet Music

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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
Search-Light Rag - Scott Joplin | Visual Piano