Topmusicanswers
Ragtime is a uniquely American, syncopated musical genre that enjoyed its peak popularity between the late 1890s and 1918. Because of its lively and springy music, it began as dance music in the African American communities in the South and Midwest, especially Missouri.
- When did ragtime stop being popular?
- Who made ragtime popular?
- What is the biggest selling ragtime song in history?
- Why was ragtime music poorly received?
When did ragtime stop being popular?
Ragtime music (“ragged”, or syncopated), originated in the southern USA at the end of the 19th Century (late 1800s). It enjoyed about 25 years of popularity, until the jazz genre took over around 1920.
Who made ragtime popular?
Perhaps the most famous composer of ragtime music, Scott Joplin (1867 or 1868 -1917) composed two of the genre's most well-known and popular pieces, “The Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag.” He was often referred to by the nickname "the King of Ragtime," and was a prolific composer, writing nearly four dozen original ...
What is the biggest selling ragtime song in history?
"Maple Leaf" is the biggest-selling piece of instrumental ragtime music. Perhaps 1 million copies ended up in American homes before phonographs and piano rolls killed the market for sheet music.
Why was ragtime music poorly received?
However, the genre was poorly received by the classical audiences, due both to its ties to popular music and its roots in African American culture, and it consequently did not receive the attention it deserved.
