Ragtime

Ragtime is a style of American piano music emphasizing syncopation and polyrhythm. Popular in the early 20th century, it was the first form of jazz to exert a wide appeal—thanks, in part, to Scott Joplin and Irving Berlin, its most celebrated composers and performers. In a ragtime composition, the pianist’s left hand keeps an accented beat while the right hand plays a fast, bouncing melody that gives the music its powerful forward impetus. What is the likely origin of the name “ragtime”? Discuss

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