Ragtime’s Popularity Grew as it Borrowed from Jazz and Blues

Ragtime’s popularity first grew in the early 1900s as it began borrowing from both jazz and blues music.

Introduction

Ragtime was one of the most popular forms of American music in the early twentieth century. A key element in the development of jazz, ragtime enjoyed a wide popularity before fading away in the 1920s.

What is Ragtime?

Ragtime is a genre of music that became popular at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a combination of the syncopated music of the African-American slaves and the marching band music of the white people.

Origins of Ragtime

The exact origins of ragtime are unknown, but it is thought to have originated in the mid-1890s in the southern United States, specifically in African American communities in cities such as New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago. Ragtime was a departure from the traditional march style of music, and was instead characterized by itssyncopated (or “ragged”) rhythms. This gave the music a more relaxed and improvisational feel, which was influenced by both jazz and blues.

Ragtime became immensely popular in the early 1900s, particularly in the northeastern United States. It was often heard in dance halls and nightclubs, and many famous composers wroteragtime pieces, including Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and Irving Berlin. While ragtime fell out of popularity in the 1920s with the rise of jazz, it has experienced a resurgence in recent years thanks to its inclusion in films such as The Sting and Ragtime.

Characteristics of Ragtime

Ragtime is a style of American music that enjoyed its greatest popularity between 1900 and 1918. Its distinctive rhythm, derived from African sources, was originally played on the piano, but it was soon adopted by other instruments, particularly the banjo, brass bands, and eventually playing orchestras. The music was highly syncopated—that is, the melody was often “ragged” or shift in tempo from the regular beat.

Most ragtime tunes were in march or waltz time (two beats to a measure), but some were in other meters, such as 6/8 or 7/8. Ragtime’s syncopation made it different from European classical music of the same period; classical composers such as Johannes Brahms were highly influenced by ragtime (particularly Brahms’s Hungarian Dances).

Ragtime borrowed from other American styles of music, such as marching band music (known as “Sousa tunes”), minstrelsy, and jazz. Unlike jazz, however, which evolved from folk sources and became more improvising as it developed, ragtime was primarily a written style of music—its melodies were composed rather than improvised. Nevertheless, many of the creators of ragtime tunes were African American musicians who came from a tradition of oral musical expression.

The Popularity of Ragtime

Ragtime’s popularity began to grow in the early 1900s as it started to borrow from jazz and blues. This new style of music was enjoyed by both blacks and whites and quickly spread across the country. By the 1920s, ragtime was one of the most popular forms of music in America.

Ragtime and Jazz

Ragtime is a genre of music that was popular in the early 1900s. It’s considered the first truly American form of music, blending elements of European classical music with African musical traditions. Ragtime was popularized by African American musicians, and its popularity grew as it began borrowing from other genres, like jazz and blues. Today, ragtime is still heard in some forms of popular music, like rhythm and blues (R&B) and rock ‘n’ roll.

Ragtime and Blues

Ragtime was most popular from about 1899 to 1918, although its popularity continued into the 1920s. By the late 1940s, ragtime had died out as a popu- lar music form, although a few composers such as Eubie Blake continued to write ragtime pieces. In the 1970s and 1980s, interest in ragtime was revived by jazz and blues musicians such as Scott Joplin (1867–1917), Jelly Roll Morton (1890–1941), and James P. Johnson (1894–1955). Today, there are many ragtime bands and composers around the world.

Conclusion

Ragtime’s popularity grew as it borrowed from jazz and blues. The music was easy to dance to and had a infectious beat. Ragtime was also popular because it was easy to play. Pianists could play it in clubs and bars, and people could buy sheet music to play at home.