The Entertainer, Scott Joplin Pre Jazz Ragtime

Question 1

What era is ‘The Entertainer’?

Answer 1

Ragtime/Pre-Jazz

Question 2

Who Wrote The Entertainer?

Answer 2

Scott Joplin

Question 3

What is the Structure of The Entertainer?

Answer 3

Intro, Ax2,Bx2,A,Cx2,Dx2 (very repetitive structure)

Question 4

What is the texture like in the intro?

Answer 4

Monophonic octaves (b1-2)

Question 5

What is the texture throughout most of the piece?

Answer 5

Homophonic

Question 6

What can be said about the left hand part?

Answer 6

It is characteristic harlem stride piano style

Question 7

What does the left hand piano part occasionally do?

Answer 7

Plays figures which would have been played by trombones in marches

Question 8

Where is there an example of a left hand trombone type figure?

Answer 8

b67-68

Question 9

Which chords are predominantly used?

Answer 9

I,IV and V with some chromatic harmony like secondary 7ths

Question 10

What key is the piece in?

Answer 10

Begins in C major but interestingly on a D chord

Question 11

What harmonic feature is heard in b4-5?

Answer 11

V-I perfect cadence followed by II7 chromatic harmony which creates perfect cadence in F

Question 12

What modulation is there in bar 7 and how is it shown?

Answer 12

F natural shows the modulation to G but the key swiftly returns to C major in beat 4 of the same bar

Question 13

What harmonic feature is heard in b11?

Answer 13

ii7 chromatic chord, raised 3rd forms a perfect cadence in G (same as in b4-5 but in G this time)

Question 14

What cadence is there at b28-29

Answer 14

Perfect cadence in G, returns to C a bar later

Question 15

What kind of modulation is there at section C (b55)?

Answer 15

Modulation to the subdominant which was influenced by susa marches

Question 16

What happens at the end of section C?

Answer 16

Music returns to C major, the music is taken from the last 4 bars of section B

Question 17

How is syncopation used?

Answer 17

Notes are often tied over back rhythms e.g. b6 beat 2

Question 18

What time signature is this piece in and why is it significant?

Answer 18

2/4 - march heritage. 4/4 is only occasionally seen in ragtime

Question 19

What does the left hand do in terms of rhythm?

Answer 19

Always plays strict quavers to clarify the beat (e.g. b5)

Question 20

What is a common rhythm pattern?

Answer 20

semiquaver, quaver, semiquaver e.g. b9 beat 1

Question 21

What kind of passing notes?

Answer 21

chromatic ones