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Jessica Hsieh
WR100
Dr. Oller
March 15, 2013
Uncovering Ragtime

Ragtime music is a music genre that was most popular during 1897
to 1918. Its special characteristic is its syncopated or "ragged", rhythm.
Syncopation has a variety of unexpected rhythms, which make an offbeat
tune or piece of music. Borrowing Hoffman Miles's words, syncopation is a
term for "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm": a
"placement of rhythmic stresses or accents where they wouldn't normally
occur" (Syncopation). Scott Joplin is one of the most famous ragtime
musicians. He was an African-American composer and pianist. Joplin is too
good that is later called as "The King of Ragtime". Jelly Roll Morton is
another famous ragtime musician. He is an American ragtime and early
jazz pianist. Widely known as an important figure in early jazz, Morton is
most notable by creating a musical genre that keeps its characteristics
and spirit by cooperating with improvisation (Gary and Scott DeVeaux,
Jazz). Although both Joplin and Morton are ragtime musicians, they have
different music style since they played in different time. Joplin's music is
more straightforward and conservative while Morton's has faster speed
and an innovative, more jazz-like melody and rhythm.

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Ragtime was born from African American music in the late 19th
century. In the beginning of the 20th century, it became very popular
throughout America. People listened and danced with ragtime music. It
was basically performed by piano. With a distinct musical style, ragtime is
considered as a combination of African syncopation and European
classical music and it is known as the predecessor of early jazz. The
concert, From Third Stream to Contemporary Improvisation, was my first
experience of ragtime and early jazz music. It was a chance for students
in New England Conservatory to demonstrate their achievements. At the
same time, it offered a connection to many kinds of music styles for music
lovers from different places. In the concert, the students and faculties
ensembles from New England Conservatory showed the transformation of
Jazz music through their performance. It started from ragtime music,
which was Joplin and Morton's professions, to modern Jazz. The difference
between Joplin and Morton stood out in the concert. After attending to the
concert, I became able to acknowledge and enjoy this special genre that I
barely listened to before. Using the experience of the concert, I am going
to unveil the how the music of Scott Joplin different to Jelly Roll Morton's.

The piece of Scott Joplin the NEC ensembles played is "The Ragtime
Dance". The original version is played by piano only. However, the
ensembles present it by using many different instruments, including
strings, woodwinds and percussions. The melody is very lively and
interesting. The syncopation is very obvious and easy to recognize. It is
the main element that makes the whole piece stands out. The piece is

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more innovative in contrast to real classical music because of the
syncopation. However, the piece has less notes playing in compare to real
jazz music. Jazz music is more complex because of the combination of
notes playing and varies rhythms. Joplin's ragtime piece is simpler and
easy to follow. It is just like a clown who amuses little kids, his music is
simple but interesting.

Jelly Roll Morton, on the other hand, has his own development on the
original ragtime music. The piece of Jelly Roll Morton the NEC ensembles
played is "Grandpa's Spell". It has the element of ragtime, syncopation.
However, it has more than that. Morton's piece is more like a combination
of ragtime and early jazz. It has not only syncopation, but also playful
notes and a more unpredictable rhythm. In addition, Morton's piece has
greater speed comparing to Joplin's. Unlike Joplin's piece, Morton's is more
like a parade, greater and more powerful.

The difference between these two great musicians stands out even
more when we listen to and compare Scott Joplin's version of "Maple Leaf
Rag" with Jelly Roll Morton's version. "Maple Leaf Rag" is one of the most
famous pieces composed by Scott Joplin. It is the reason that Joplin is
called the "King of Ragtime." It is carefully constructed with novel
syncopations. With syncopations, the piece is lively and active. Moreover,
same as the other pieces of Scott Joplin, it is comprehensible and easy to
follow. Joplin plays it by piano only and he does not play with notes like
Jazz musicians. But this simple melody is very attractive that audiences

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would move their bodies with the music. Joplin plays like an AfricanAmerican western classical composer, and tries to involve some
multicultural musical elements. The combination of simple notes and
syncopations makes the whole piece relaxing but at the same time agile.

Jelly Roll Morton's "Maple Leaf Rag" is very different from the original
version. In his version, he keeps the interesting syncopations and the
main melody. However, he integrates jazz elements into the piece and
makes it very different from the Joplin's version. Jelly Roll Morton is an
improviser as well as a composer. He likes to play with original version
instead of following what is written. He is more opened and likes to try
new things. In Morton's version, you can easily find out that he uses a lot
of complex scales and additional notes just like other jazz musicians.
These new elements redecorate the piece and make it more attractive.
Moreover, he plays the piece in a higher speed, which often occurs in jazz
music. He combines ragtime with jazz, and thus creates a unique
atmosphere. Morton successfully integrates both music styles. Although
Morton's version is not as comprehensible as the original version, he
actually upgrades the original version into a more interesting innovation.

As the predecessor of jazz music, ragtime is greatly honored by

many talented musicians. Its playful melody and syncopations are the
reasons that it is greatly used for dancing. It is an important foundation for
the development of later jazz music. Scott Joplin's contribution is notable
and comprehensible. His music, especially "Maple Leaf Rag", made the

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huge impact in the early 19th and 20th century. The syncopations are
what made Scott Joplin's music different from those African American folk
music and classical music. His music has simple melody but with
interesting rhythm. However, although it is decorated by syncopations,
Joplin's music is still relatively conservative. Unlike Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton
is more like a naughty kid who likes to try challenging things. He played
both ragtime and early jazz, and of course, the combination of two. In
Morton's version of "Maple Leaf Rag", he makes the melody more complex
by adding playful notes and scales. In addition, Morton performed the
piece in an accelerated speed. The complexity transformed this ragtime
piece into a more jazz-like piece. In sum, Scott Joplin and Jelly Roll Morton
both have a great impact on the development of jazz music yet they have
different kind of contribution. Joplin is a starter of the ragtime music while
Jelly Roll Morton is an innovator who transforms the ragtime music into a
more playful and unpredictable jazz. The difference between Scott Joplin
and Jelly Roll Morton marked the transformation of ragtime to early jazz
music. It impacted the music history and led it into a new direction.

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Citation
Giddins, Gary & Scott DeVeaux (2009). Jazz. New York: W.W. Norton & Co
Hoffman, Miles (1997)."Syncopation". National Symphony Orchestra. NPR.
Retrieve 13 July 2009