Description
Published in 1909 with the subtitle "A Mexican Serenade," this is a quiet, slow-tempo ragtime. A wistful melody combined with habanera-like rhythm gives it a distinctive mood, setting it apart from Joplin's more typically bouncy rags. It rewards a singing approach to the melody over rhythmic drive.
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 →