Perhaps Joplin's 3rd most popular & well-known work (trailing behind that of The Entertainer & Maple Leaf), his Pine Apple Rag should be familiar to any who have seen the movie "The Sting." Often regarded as one of the finest rags Joplin had wrote during his final years, it's basis on folk themes mixed with a clever sense of syncopation most certainly uphold the age-old argument.

The A section demonstrates the light-heart esscense that many marching tunes had possed throughout the 1900s while the B section carries this along in a wonderfully bright and cheery manner. As for the C section, it would be here that Joplin showed true foresight for future styles with his bass pattern predicting Boogie, which would become popular some fifteen years later. By taking a closer look into the particular work, one can even take notice Joplin's usage of a flat seventh, a "blue" note, in the right hand. Yet whether it is intended to reflect what would ultimately become the Blues (in widespread popular American society) or just a stab at innovative composition is merely a matter of conjecture.

Finally concluding with it's equally innovative D section, we are presented with another variation of what would become an important Boogie bass pattern, alongside a charming chord pattern that clearly signals the end of this exuberant piece. The end result obviously becoming the "fruit" of his labor. It is also notable to take a look into the almost drastic up-scale in cover art with Joplin's time between Seminary in New York in comparison to his previous publishers in St. Louis & Sedalia.
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"Pine Apple Rag" - Classic Piano Rag - Pattern: Intro A A B B A Trio Trio D D
Music by Scott Joplin, Published by Seminary Music Company in 1908
Cover Artist: Unknown

Music description provided & written by Bill Edwards
© 1998-2024 Bill Edwards

Music performed by Guido Nielsen with his album "Scott Joplin: The Complete Works (Rags, Waltzes & Songs)"

℗ 2000 Basta Audio-Visuals
Producer: Piet Schreuders
Music Publisher: Basta Music
Performer: Guido Nielsen

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