SCOTT JOPLIN

Born November 24,1868

Died April 1, 1917

SCOTT JOPLIN

His parents were musical, as a child he took piano lessons, After the Columbian exposition he moved to Sedalia, Missouri to study music at George R. Smith college . His first major success came at age 31, with a piano piece entitled Maple leaf Rag, it was published by a St. Louis publisher and sold over a million copies., with this sudden success he married and moved to St. Louis to become a pianist and musical director of an opera company, owned by his music publisher.

At age 38 he began To compose much larger works, including a ballet,(the ragtime dance), and an opera (A guest of honor). Between 1900- 1906 he wrote more than 50 piano rags, including a listening example, The Entertainer. In 1907 he divorced from his wife, and moved to New York City, and began work on a major opera called Treemonisha. Which was never performed, it wasn’t until 1972, 55 years after his death that it was given a full performance.

Scott Joplin was considered “King of Ragtime”. Ragtime music was very popular between 1890 and 1910 and it was one of the first truly American forms of Music..

“KING OF RAGTIME”

1976, 59 years after his death, Joplin was awarded the Pulitzer prize.

His piano piece the entertainer, was featured in the movie sting .

His goal was to make ragtime music respectable as a serious style of music.

FACTS

RESOURCES

www.usopera.com

www.scottjoplin.org

www.jnpa.com

20th century packet