Ragtime Flashcards
When was ragtime popular?
1890-1917.
What approach to instrumentation did ragtime take?
Typically solo piano, but occasionally solo banjo, or a small ensemble.
Name a ragtime musician.
Scott Joplin.
Name a ragtime piece.
‘Maple Leaf Rag’ - Scott Joplin.
‘The Entertainer’ - Scott Joplin.
What style was Joplin influenced by?
March style.
What metres were rags generally in?
2/4.
What key rhythmic elements feature in ragtime?
2/4.
Syncopated right hand.
Steady quavers (typically) in left hand.
Anacrusis.
How did Joplin structure his rags?
16 bars of 2/4.
AA, BB, CC, DD (four sections).
Sometimes the A section would have a cheeky reappearance.
How did the pattern of generally tonality link to structure?
A and B sections are in the tonic.
C section in the subdominant.
D section could be either.
What is much of the harmonic movement comprised of?
Tonic and dominant relationships.
What extra tonal pizazz can also be found?
Tonic, dominant, secondary dominant and diminished chord qualities.
Chromatic harmonic movement.
Chromatic steps.
Leading notes.
What features are part of the melody?
Arpeggiated material.
Scalic runs.
Chromatic runs.
Question and answer phrases (antecedent and consequent).
Repetition of music ideas.
Large range.
Abrupt contrasts in pitch.
What kind of left-hand accompaniments are there?
‘Oom pah, oom pah’.
‘Oom cha cha , oom cha cha a’.
What textural features are there?
Frequent intervals of octaves or tenths.
Counterpoint.
Homophony.
