Ragtime is the foundation of jazz

Ragtime as a musical direction was finally formed at the beginning of the XX century. This style was popular for a very short time - just over twenty years (from 1900 to 1918), but it became the basis for the musical directions that exist to this day, in particular jazz music. It was from the ragtime improvisation that a heterogeneous rhythm was borrowed, a kind of "broken", "broken" melodies.

His play exclusively on the piano, but previously were not excluded and the orchestral interpretation. From all the variety of musical instruments in America it was the piano that became the source of this musical direction. However, this game was far from traditional romantic melodies, it was built on different principles. Ragtime is a tough piano sound. It has special rhythmic accents.

Ragtime - what kind of phenomenon is this?

Style began to emerge in the Midwest in the United States in the provincial black population of America. It is characterized by bright piano notes, sounding in an African-American hue, with characteristic improvisations. Gradually, the ragtime moved to the big megacities. This style began to seriously engage professional composers. Music began to be recorded with notes. Ragtime was performed by venerable virtuoso pianists. In those days in many houses of America the piano was sure to be present, and this was the reason for the rapid spread of the music style of ragtime. Thus, ragtime from villages and provinces broke through to the most famous world pop scenes.

Tom Tharpin is one of the first composers and pianists who took up the style of ragtime and designed it into a concert independent form. He gave the style a strict organic form, added contrasting shades and moods and combined all this into a single harmonious whole. The direction was picked up by Scott Joplin, this musician played a significant role in the formation of traditional foundations.

Ragtime is a dance

The classical style eventually lost its popularity, as it interfered with the freedom of improvisation. The moment was taken into account by Jelly Roll Morton. He developed a special piano technique. From that moment the style began to gently flow into jazz. But ragtime is also something like African American dance. His prototype was keikuok. This is a dance of black slaves, characterized by sharp, steep movements. The musicians tried to adapt to the dancers, resulting in a few "ragged" rhythms. Hence the name.

Merger

Ragtime is an amalgamation of diverse styles, here you can hear blues notes, and even elements of marches of brass bands. This dance form has a size of two or four quarters, with odd beats striking basses, and in even chords play chords. Some dance compositions combine several musical themes.

Conclusion

Over time, ragtime became the most fashionable salon ballroom dance. On the basis of this style originated such areas as foxtrot and swing. In 1960, ragtime was universally recognized as a separate musical genre. Today, there are many fans of this amazing direction. His story has not faded completely, it continues in our time. Ragtime is a very unique phenomenon, and now you know what its features are. It remains to add only a few interesting facts.

Hit-single Plush rock band called Stone Temple Pilots was created thanks to the enthusiasm of the bass guitarist of the collective ragtime. This can be seen in the structure of the song, its construction and chords. The minstrels, which were made up for African-Americans, first become popular as early as 1848.