The Ragtime Craze
Donald Macleod and Joplin biographer Susan Curtis focus on the craze for ragtime and the obstacles Joplin faced as an African-American composer aspiring to write an opera.
Donald Macleod talks to Joplin biographer Susan Curtis about how the Chicago World Fair and economic crisis of 1893 helped the ragtime craze to take hold, and the obstacles Joplin faced as an African-American composer aspiring to write an opera.
The Entertainer
Mimi Blais (piano)
Swipesy Cake Walk & Peacherine Rag
Scott Kirby (piano)
Easy Winners (arr. Brubeck)
Chris Brubeck (trombone / piano / bass guitar), Bill Crofut (banjo), Joel Brown (guitar) London Symphony Orchestra, Joel Revzen (conductor)
The Strenuous Life (arr Perlman)
Itzhak Perlman (violin), André Previn (piano)
Elite Syncopations (arr Perlman)
Matthew Trusler (violin), Wayne Marshall (piano)
Treemonisha (Act 1 excerpt)
Nos 6 - 10: The Sacred Tree, Surprised, Treemonisha's bringing up; Good advice; Confusion
Monisha ..... Betty Allen (mezzo)
Treemonisha ..... Carmen Balthrop (soprano)
Parson Alltalk ..... Edward Pierson (tenor)
Lucy ..... Cora Johnson (soprano)
Ned ..... Willard White (bass)
Remus ..... Curtis Rayam (tenor)
Chorus and Orchestra of Houston Grand Opera, Gunther Schuller (conductor).
Last on
Music Played
![]()
Scott Joplin
The Entertainer
Performer: Mimi Blais.- UNKNOWN.
- MRBCD-001.
![]()
Scott Joplin
Swipesy - cake walk
Performer: Scott Kirby.- UNKNOWN.
- GPR-002.
![]()
Scott Joplin
Peacherine rag
Performer: Scott Kirby.- UNKNOWN.
- GPR-002.
![]()
Scott Joplin
The Easy winners - rag
Conductor: Joel Revzen. Performer: Bill Crofut. Performer: Chris Brubeck. Performer: Chris Brubeck. Performer: Chris Brubeck. Performer: Joel Brown. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.- KOCH.
- 3-7485-2 H1.
![]()
Scott Joplin
The Strenuous life - ragtime two-step
Performer: André Previn. Performer: Itzhak Perlman.- EMI.
- CDC 7-47170.
![]()
Scott Joplin
Elite syncopations - rag, arr. Perlman
Performer: Matthew Trusler. Performer: Wayne Marshall.- ORCHID RECORDS.
- ORC-100002.
![]()
Scott Joplin
Treemonisha - The Sacred Tree, Surprised, Treemonisha’s bringing up
Performer: Betty Allen. Performer: Carmen Balthrop. Orchestra: Houston Grand Opera. Choir: Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. Performer: Gunther Schuller.- DG RECORDS.
- 435-709-2.
![]()
Scott Joplin
Treemonisha - Good advice
Conductor: Gunther Schuller. Performer: Betty Allen. Performer: Cora Johnson. Performer: Curtis Rayam. Performer: Edward Pierson. Performer: Sir Willard White. Performer: Houston Grand Opera Chorus. Performer: Houston Grand Opera Orchestra.- DG RECORDS.
- 435-709-2.
Broadcasts
- Tue 2 Oct 200712:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 2 Oct 200720:45BBC Radio 3
- Tue 4 Apr 201712:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 4 Apr 201718:30BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
