Blog 2 "Maple Leaf Rag"

 

    I listened to Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin this week which was played on the piano. I have heard this song before, and I never realized it was composed in 1899. As I listened, I recognized the jazz elements, and the playing of the song is very staccato. It gives off an old timey feel and I picture it being played in an old western bar. It is an upbeat yet slightly crazy tune that makes me want to move at a quick pace. The higher notes he plays also make me slightly anxious. There are a lot of similar chords within the song, and it sounds mostly uniform in tone. About halfway through the song the notes change somewhat, and it has a more relaxed rhythm and the treble clef notes sound happier. I enjoyed the range of the music as well and that most of the piano was used to make the song. It is a complex piece, and the left hand must jump around while the right hand seems to stay within a reasonable range. The left hand also establishes the beat and from the beat you can hear the off-beat notes quite nicely. As this is a jazz piece, I also wonder if some of or if not most of the song was originally improvisation? 

Here is a snippet of the sheet music to show the complexity of the song. I claim no right to this sheet music.