[Publius]

It’s an interesting way of losing one’s musical virginity.

[Publius]

”The Ragtime Dance” was a work that gestated over several years. Scott Joplin had written it in 1902 as a sort of dance show. He privately staged it that year for John Stark with a group of dancers and himself on piano, conducting an orchestra and handling spoken narration. Stark wasn’t impressed, although his daughter prevailed on him to publish the piece. It didn’t sell.

In 1906, Joplin turned 38, and he ended his marriage with Belle, spending the year in Texarkana and Chicago. Back in St. Louis, Stark attempted to recoup his losses on “The Ragtime Dance” by issuing a condensed version of the piece, and it sold well enough.

Joplin: “The Ragtime Dance”

Whatever faults of this video, he has the march nailed.

”Antoinette”

At the end of the year, Joplin decided to move to New York. His opera, “A Guest of Honor”, was placed in a trunk that was to be sent to New York with his other belongings. The trunk and opera disappeared, never to be seen again.

[left that other site]

It was actually an easier gig than the C&W bar the following week. The BLUES DID NOT fit in there at all!