Ragtime Piano Listing

[bmete]

Hello,I could definitely use your help. The following listing is asking for a Rag time piano ( ALA Scott Joplin ). I have no illusions that I a rag time piano player .( I forgot just how hard it is ).Anyway, this little tune jumped into my head, my question is "Is this song on target for the listing"this is a rough cut... If you think it is on target, I'll have to clean it up and get all the little mistakes out.I call it Lazy Walk Raghttp://www.reddproductions.net/lazywalkrag.mp3RAGTIME PIANO INSTRUMENTALS a la Scott Joplin are sought by a prominent LA-based Music Library who has signed and placed many TAXI songs. Solo piano pieces or piano tracks with accompaniment are OK (make sure the piano is the lead instrument). Please do not submit covers--your instrumentals must be originals. NO VOCALS. Great performances are essential. Broadcast quality needed--Great sounding home recordings are just fineThanks for listening!Bob

[sgs4u]

Well... it's kinda slow. My memories of ragtime, are someone who can really play the style, effortlessly and at fast tempos. That doesn't at all mean what you've done is NOT what they're looking for. But it does sound like you're trying to get it, as supposed to really nailing the sound of Scott Joplin. If you can really clean it up, it might be just fine. The one advantage you have is that there aren't a lot of cats left anymore, that can zoom around in a Ragtime style. So if you can turn up the tempo on the sequencer another 5 or 10 beats a minute, see if it makes your tune rock (for lack of a better term), a little more. I've been told by the famous guy here that a great library of solo piano pieces is a very marketable commodity, so keep at it, Bob.steve

[ljweber70]

Hi Bob,Nice performance here. IMO, when I think of Scott Joplin, I hear march - tempo 2/4 time pieces with a striding left hand and a synchopated right hand. Not to say your piece would not be classified as ragtime. It just isn't what I hear when I think of Joplin. It sounds to me more like a jazz club background tune. I agree with Steve that it lacks speed. I'd also go a step further to say that it would need to be cranked up quite a bit more than 5 or 10 beats per minute to get to the "march" tempo. I listened to Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" the other day and would guess that the tempo was at least 100 beats per minute played in half - time -- equivalent of 200 beats per minute in straight time.That said, you never know what they are looking for exactly Good luck!!Larry

[bmete]

Thanks Steve & Larry,Yeah, In the back of my mind I knew it was going to have to come up in tempo. I listened to a bunch of Joplin on line, and I found a couple of his rags that were a medium to slow tempo, so armed with that info, I kept it slow. ( my rationale was it didn't sound good fast. ( the realization was it didn't sound good cause I couldn't play it fast. )But since reading your posts, I stepped it up, and the more I played it miraculously it started sounding better ( and it was more like a rag). I'm going to wood shed it over the next couple of days, and I'll re post it. would love to have your before and after opinions.Thanks for keeping me on target!Bob

[ncc1701]

I have the complete Joplin collection - rags, waltzes, two-steps, etc. - and have learned most of them. (Didn't say I could actually PLAY them well.) The rags have a VERY standard structure with predictable chord patterns, harmonies and rhythms. Even the range of the left and right hand is pretty much standard for every rag.In some of his slower tempo pieces ("Solace - A Mexican Serenade" comes to mind), he does use a few blue notes, but 99% of Joplin's music is standard I-IV-V7 chords with some diminished triads thrown in for color. Also, the rags are always straight, never swung.I like your piece very much - it's really cool and jazzy, but if they're looking for "a la Scott Joplin," this is definitely a different direction. I'd like to hear the uptempo version, though!Kathleen

[trentoliphant]

Very nice piece, but would have to agree that it is not a rag in the Scott Joplin style. There is a great website all about the history and structure of ragtime - including information on composing rags.http://www.perfessorbill.com/ragtime12.shtmlTrent

[ddusty]

I agree with the others....This is probably just me (so take it with a grain of salt) but I would change up the melody a little bit. It kept reminding me of a jazz interpretation of that Black Velvet song (by allana davis?).Not close enough to be a legal problem, but not helping the ragtime feel.Although speeding it up may remove the similarity.

[bmete]

Thanks to everyone for your insights, they really help!You all are a great reference library of info...Trent, thanks for that link--- I agree with everyone that the tempo has to come up, I had a good laugh when reading on that link- there was a quote from Joplin that said ragtime should never be played fast... ( but I'm sure the screener would not be aware of that quote.... so up the tempo it goes )Dusty, at first I couldn't hear the reference to Black Velvet, now that's all I hear, my wife said it reminded her of a song but she couldn't some up with name. As I'm raising the tempo the Black Velvet similarities are disappearing. Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!Bob

[radmilaj]

Almost all my Scott Joplin music say not fast, or not too fast. Yes the harmonies and form are predictable but I think while it sounds cool played fast it is much too sophisticated to be played fast. BTW...."Bethena" is a great waltz...radawww.pianopssions.com

[bmete]

Hi,Well I got it up to 120 bpm. If nothing else, it forced me to practice. When I saw this listing I said, give it a shot, maybe there aren't many ragtime players out there. Judging by Larry's thread and this one, WOW, lots of players. Good Luck to All!Lazy Walk Rag http://www.reddproductions.net/reynovia ... rag.mp3Bob