What is Ragtime? David A. Jasen gives the definitive musical definition
as well as the history of Ragtime from it's beginning to the present day
in his latest book "Ragtime An Encyclopedia, Discography, and
Sheetography" published by Routledge. It's 550 pages, hardcover, 8 ½" X
11".
Jasen describes in detail the categories of Ragtime. From the Early Folk
Rags, The Joplin Tradition or Classic Ragtime, Popular Ragtime, Advanced
Ragtime, Novelty Ragtime, Stride Ragtime, and Jelly Roll Morton's
Ragtime. Ragtime's original heyday as well as its Revivals are covered
up to the present day.
The book is divided into 4 primary sections. The first section contains
the Encyclopedia entries. You can look up Composer, Performer, and
Publisher Profiles, Ragtime Compositions with musical descriptions and
other interesting related facts. There are over 100 images of rare
photos and artifacts from the Ragtime era. Including a signed contract
between Scott Joplin and his publisher John Stark for his landmark
composition "The Maple Leaf Rag". There are images of Sheet Music,
Record and Piano Roll Labels, Period Advertising, Composers, Performers,
and Places of historical interest.
As a serious collector of Ragtime Sheet Music, Piano Rolls and Records,
I really appreciate the next three sections of the book. The perennial
question for the collector is "What's out there to collect?" For the
performer it might be "What tune can I perform that nobody else has done
or may even know about?" Stamp collectors have their Scott's Catalog to
see what's possible to collect. We Ragtimers have a Discography, Ragtime
Piano Rollography, and Sheetography, thanks to Professor Jasen, the
first to have published them. I check off the items I own, and then I
can see the items I need.
Appendix 1 Rags On Record: A Discography
"The intention of this discography is to identify all commercially
released discs of 78s, 45s, and LPs throughout the world since the
beginning of Ragtime recording in 1897." The discography lists the
Compositions alphabetically with the Composer, followed by Performers,
Record Speeds, Record Companies and Number, and Year of release.
Appendix 2 Ragtime Piano Rollography
There are Ragtime Compositions that were never published in sheet music
form, or recorded on disc, as you will note from the entries in the
encyclopedia. However, some compositions do turn up on Piano Roll. Some
of the performances are truly extraordinary. The Rollography lists the
Compositions with Composers alphabetically, then the Roll Companies and
Number. If the roll is an early 65-note type it's indicated. The
performer is listed if the roll is hand played.
Appendix 3 Published Rags In America
There's an alphabetical list of over 2000 Published Instrumental Ragtime
compositions. It lists the Composition followed by the Composer, Date,
Publisher, City and State of Publication.
David A Jasen is internationally recognized as a leading authority on
American Popular Music. He's authored many well-received reference books
on Ragtime, Early Jazz and Popular Music. He produced many sheet music
folios and Records. As a Composer and Performer, The Professor captures
the essence of Ragtime. He is Professor of Media Arts at the C.W. Post
campus of Long Island University, where he has been teaching for the
past 35 years.
Joel@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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