Scott Joplin's exact birth date and place are uncertain, with the most widely accepted date of November 24, 1868, likely inaccurate.
Compositional Technique
Ragtime is characterized by a free sense of syncopation, where offbeats bounce against a steady beat, and is named by Joplin for its 'ragged movement.'
Performer Biography
Alexander Peskanov is also a successful composer, with recordings of his own piano compositions, and is the author of 'The Russian Technical Regimen for the Piano' book series.
Cultural Impact
Joplin's piece 'The Entertainer' became widely popular in the 1970s after being featured in the motion picture 'The Sting,' renewing interest in ragtime.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Joplin, though known for ragtime, always considered himself a composer rather than a 'Tin Pan Alley songster' and had a lifelong interest in opera.
Performer Biography
Alexander Peskanov, the pianist on this album, made his American orchestral debut with the National Symphony under Rostropovich and has collaborated with notable musicians like Yo-Yo Ma.
Composer Biography
Joplin's father, born into slavery, worked on a farm, and young Scott was allowed to play piano at age seven in a white neighbor's house.
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