Joplin: Ragtimes & Waltzes Alessandro Simonetto

• Scott Joplin (1868 - 1917):
• 1 Original Rags 03:53
• 2 Maple Leaf Rag 02:20
• 3 Swipesy Cakewalk 03:50
• 4 Peacherine Rag 03:51
• 5 Sunflower Slow Drag 04:06
• 6 A Breeze from Alabama 04:12
• 7 The Entertainer 03:25
• 8 The Strenuous Life 04:12
• 9 Something Doing 03:59
• 10 Weeping Willow 02:59
• 11 Palm Leaf 04:42
• 12 The Favorite 03:17
• 13 The Cascades 03:33
• 14 The Chrysanthemum 05:11
• 15 Bethena 07:40
• 16 Kismet 03:04
• 17 Binks's Waltz 06:24
• 18 Eugenia 05:57
• 19 The Ragtime Dance 03:56
• 20 Gladiolus Rag 03:16
• 21 Searchlight Rag 04:55
• 22 Rose Leaf Rag 06:25
• 23 Heliotrope Bouquet 04:36
• 24 Fig Leaf Rag 05:21
• 25 Sugar Cane 02:55
• 26 Pine Apple Rag 04:39
• 27 School of Ragtime 02:31
• 28 Pleasant Moments 03:54
• 29 Wall Street Rag 06:03
• 30 Euphonic Sounds 03:11
• 31 Stoptime Rag 03:01
• 32 Scott Joplin's New Rag 04:23
• 33 Magnetic Rag 05:24
• Total Runtime 02:21:05

Info for Joplin: Ragtimes & Waltzes

It is difficult not to be won over by the rhythm and unmistakable thematic creativity of Scott Joplin's compositions. Born in 1867 or ’68 (the exact date is not known) and gifted with a natural talent, Joplin began to play as a self-taught pianist in the wealthy homes at which his mother worked as a maid. Later, he took piano lessons and learned the craft as a composer, which is evident in the beautiful balance we identify in his works. Before turning thirty, Joplin was already known in the saloons, thanks in particular to Maple Leaf Rag, a piece that marks the evolution of a genre, and that makes him known to the wide public as “The King of Ragtime.”

This present set contains Joplin’s most significant compositions – thirty Ragtimes (including the rarely recorded “The School of Ragtime”) and three Waltzes. Thanks to its accurate chronological order, this recording reveals the composer’s evolution of both form and style. Some of his more or less known ragtimes (Maple Leaf Rag, Peacherine Rag, Something Doing, Swipesy, The Entertainer, Palm Leaf Rag, Eugenia, Gladiolus Rag, Wall Street Rag, Rose Leaf Rag, Fig Leaf Rag, Euphonic Sounds, Magnetic Rag, Scott Joplin's New Rag) could be labeled as true masterpieces for their quality, balance, and refinement. One might even say that Joplin is the Mozart of Jazz.

The performance of polymath Alessandro Simonetto emphasizes the coloristic and rhythmic nature of Joplin’s compositions, so often undermined and mistreated.

The recording was made on a Steinway D-274 owned by Simonetto, who was also the recording engineer (original at 88.2/24bit).

Alessandro Simonetto, piano

Recorded 2017 at Saletta acustica 'Eric James', Pove del Grappa
Engineered by Alessandro Simonetto

No biography found.

This album contains no booklet.