The Maple Leaf Rag

As a classical violinist, I think I'd have to say that my guilty pleasure is ragtime music. I really do like ragtime, and I'm well aware that many people find it annoying and say that it all sounds the same, but I like it anyway :)

I picked the Maple Leaf Rag to talk about tonight, it's pretty much the staple of ragtime music, and you've probably heard it before, probably several times before. I know the ice cream truck that comes around my neighborhood plays it! What I like about this piece though, is that it isn't trying to be anything, it's just a simple tune in the usual ragtime form. There is no heavy statement or meaning attached to it, it's just a rag- good to dance to, if you like or chat over.

The Maple Leaf Rag was composed by Scott Joplin, the most well known composer of ragtime music.
Here is Scott Joplin himself playing on an old pianola roll!
But I also wanted to find another, more modern recording...
So here is one! Unfortunately this person did not leave their name, so I cannot credit them properly, but I like the tempo of this recording a lot!
Hope that's enough syncopation for you tonight, folks!