PlayPiano
The short answer
The St. Louis Rag is a rag by Tom Turpin from the Ragtime era.
- rag
- Ragtime
- octaves
- syncopation
History
The St. Louis Rag belongs to the city where Tom Turpin helped make ragtime a living piano tradition. His Rosebud venue was a meeting place for early ragtime players; the Mutopia item dates this rag to 1903 and names Sol Bloom as its source publisher.
Sources
What to listen for
The introduction projects its tune in upper-track octaves, with the lower track following the same rhythm. Later, the upper pairs move between the lower track's evenly spaced bass and chord attacks. The energy comes from that changing alignment, not simply a faster pulse.
How to practise it
- In the second window, practise the upper notes beginning at quarter positions 8.75 and 9.25 while tapping a steady quarter pulse. Keep the lower track's half-quarter attacks even when those upper notes cross them.
- Practise the opening upper octave pairs slowly, including the rise from pitch 67/79 to 72/84. Release and relocate as one shape without gripping the octave.
About this piece
- Collection
- The ragtime corner
- Licence
- Public Domain
- Source
- mutopiaproject.org
