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Ragtime

The Strenuous Life

Scott Joplin (1902)

DifficultyIntermediate
Difficulty score6 / 10
Duration3:04
Notes1,464
SourceView score on Mutopia Project ↗

Description

This vigorous ragtime takes its title from President Theodore Roosevelt's well-known phrase. Published in 1902, it is driven by tight, energetic rhythms throughout. Maintaining bouncing syncopation at a steady tempo is key to a convincing performance.

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

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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 →

Scott Joplin's Ragtime

A Breeze From AlabamaIntermediate74:12
The Easy WinnersIntermediate75:04
Wall Street RagIntermediate72:24
Elite SyncopationsIntermediate64:56
The EntertainerIntermediate74:13
Original RagsIntermediate63:38
Something DoingIntermediate62:54
Sun Flower Slow DragIntermediate74:13
Search-Light RagIntermediate74:29
Sugar CaneIntermediate72:53
SolaceIntermediate74:06
Pineapple RagIntermediate72:57
Peacherine RagIntermediate72:13
BethenaIntermediate74:23
Magnetic RagAdvanced812:40
Maple Leaf RagIntermediate72:24
EugeniaIntermediate73:01
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