The Classical Roots of Ragtime

Scott Joplin viewed his famous ragtime music not as light saloon entertainment, but as serious classical art. He famously insisted that his compositions were meant for sophisticated concert halls rather than taverns.

While most people associate ragtime with noisy, upbeat piano playing in old western saloons, Joplin took a much more elevated view of his craft. He spent years trying to have his rags and grand operas taken seriously by the musical elite of his time. He meticulously structured his pieces to be played with precision, feeling that the faster, rowdy versions played in bars cheapened his work. His legacy proves that musical genres often evolve far differently than their creators originally intended.