SCOTT JOPLIN

Born November 24,1868

Died April 1, 1917

SCOTT JOPLIN

His parents were musical, as a child he took piano lessons,

After the Columbian exposition he moved to Sedalia, Missouri

to study music at George R. Smith college . His first major

success came at age 31, with a piano piece entitled Maple leaf

Rag, it was published by a St. Louis publisher and sold over a

million copies., with this sudden success he married and

moved to St. Louis to become a pianist and musical director

of an opera company, owned by his music publisher.

At age 38 he began To compose much larger works,

including a ballet,(the ragtime dance), and an opera (A guest

of honor). Between 1900- 1906 he wrote more than 50

piano rags, including a listening example, The Entertainer.

In 1907 he divorced from his wife, and moved to New York

City, and began work on a major opera called Treemonisha.

Which was never performed, it wasn’t until 1972, 55 years

after his death that it was given a full performance.

Scott Joplin was

considered “King of

Ragtime”. Ragtime

music was very

popular between 1890

and 1910 and it was

one of the first truly

American forms of

Music..

“KING OF RAGTIME”

1976, 59 years after his

death, Joplin was awarded the

Pulitzer prize.

His piano piece the

entertainer, was featured in

the movie sting .

His goal was to make

ragtime music respectable as

a serious style of music.

FACTS

RESOURCES

www.usopera.com

www.scottjoplin.org

www.jnpa.com

20th century packet