What do you think?
Rate this book
Rags and Ragtime: A Musical History
"A work for all time . . . (with) a tremendous amount of historical information which has never been published. . . . It will be the standard text and reference work in the ragtime field." — Rag Times.
This well-known, highly praised book is the definitive history of ragtime music and its composers. Both authors are widely celebrated composers, performers, collectors, historians, and critics of ragtime music. With great enthusiasm and expertise, they trace the growth and diversification of ragtime from its earliest beginnings in the late nineteenth century through its heyday in the Folk, Classic, Popular, Novelty, and Stride Ragtime periods to its current revival.
Forty-eight major composers are discussed, including Scott Joplin, Zez Confrey, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, and many other greats. In addition, 800 important rags are profiled, most of them bearing the carefree titles that were part of the tradition, titles like "Canned Corn Rag," "Bantam Step," "Too Much Raspberry," "Ragging the Scale," and "Red Onion Rag." Each profile includes date of publication, original publisher, a discography, and a commentary of the unique character and appeal of each rag.
Over 100 photographs, many of them rare, illuminate this lively chronicle, along with reproductions of original sheet music and many other items of interest from the authors' personal archives.
"Jasen and Tichenor have no peers in ragtime knowledge. . . .They are the two unchallengeable authorities in the field of ragtime history, personalities, and musical forms." — The Classic Rag.
"A combination encyclopedia/biography/history/analysis and review, it teems with what would appear to be everything the ragtime buff or casual inquirer needs or wants to know about the music that won't stand still." — The Christian Science Monitor.
" Rags and Ragtime tells it all. There's a lot here I didn't know in pictures, music, and words." — Eubie Blake.
This well-known, highly praised book is the definitive history of ragtime music and its composers. Both authors are widely celebrated composers, performers, collectors, historians, and critics of ragtime music. With great enthusiasm and expertise, they trace the growth and diversification of ragtime from its earliest beginnings in the late nineteenth century through its heyday in the Folk, Classic, Popular, Novelty, and Stride Ragtime periods to its current revival.
Forty-eight major composers are discussed, including Scott Joplin, Zez Confrey, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, and many other greats. In addition, 800 important rags are profiled, most of them bearing the carefree titles that were part of the tradition, titles like "Canned Corn Rag," "Bantam Step," "Too Much Raspberry," "Ragging the Scale," and "Red Onion Rag." Each profile includes date of publication, original publisher, a discography, and a commentary of the unique character and appeal of each rag.
Over 100 photographs, many of them rare, illuminate this lively chronicle, along with reproductions of original sheet music and many other items of interest from the authors' personal archives.
"Jasen and Tichenor have no peers in ragtime knowledge. . . .They are the two unchallengeable authorities in the field of ragtime history, personalities, and musical forms." — The Classic Rag.
"A combination encyclopedia/biography/history/analysis and review, it teems with what would appear to be everything the ragtime buff or casual inquirer needs or wants to know about the music that won't stand still." — The Christian Science Monitor.
" Rags and Ragtime tells it all. There's a lot here I didn't know in pictures, music, and words." — Eubie Blake.
- GenresMusicNonfiction
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
David A. Jasen
41 books1 followerDavid A. Jasen is considered to be the world's foremost authority on ragtime music. He has studied, recorded, and performer ragtime music for over five decades; his publications include complete scores for many major ragtime composers, and several books on the history of the music. Additionally, he has authored for Routledge a number of other well-received and strong selling reference works, including Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia and A Century of American Popular Song.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 24, 2021
At the time this was written, it was a significant contribution to books about ragtime. Unfortunately, the authors did not cite their sources most of the time. This is a serious problem, which distinguishes a book as either journalism or scholarship. The book would be greatly improved by acknowledging sources.
February 26, 2017
Encylopedia of ragtime history. Good reference book. I found the historical summaries a bit tough going, rather than easy to follow story lines. But I didn't really have time to do it justice and hope to pick it up again when I have more time to read it when I am more alert.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews