Where it started

I don't remember the first time I heard this song. Was it in a western movie? In a video game? I can guarantee it was not from an ice-cream truck, cause we don't have those where I grew up. I think, like many classics, a lot of people can recognise this song without being able to name it. The tune is so enchanting, uplifting and iconic, everyone knows it. It's my favourite piano song. Every time I hear it, heads start nodding, lips start whistling. Like every tune with a drop, I wait for the intro to close on its final chord with my hands in the air, ready to point down on the beat as if I am conducting an orchestra that isn't there.

The visionary

Scott Joplin, the composer, was born of African descent in Texas, just after the Civil War had ended. Timing-wise, this looks like a win: he arrived three years too late for slavery. Unfortunately, the sequel was already in production. Because with slavery finally abolished, the US apparently decided the obvious replacement was segregation.

Therefore, Scott faced significant challenges to become a musician, publish his work and get recognition.

But that was not enough to stop him, he dedicated his life to his passion: playing the piano and composing music. Not only was he a genius but he also seemingly was able to foresee the future because he successfully predicted 3 things...

1. His future fame

"When I'm dead twenty-five years, people are going to recognize me."

Scott predicted his own posthumous fame with full confidence and was only off by 3 decades. While he got some popularity while being alive he mostly died in unnoticed: his grave was a common one with no name on it. It's only in 1973, when his song was used in the oscar-winning film "The Sting" that rag experienced a revival.

2. James Brown

The original Entertainer is dedicated to "James Brown and his mandolin club". No one knew who this James Brown was. In 1965, long after Scott had died, a man named James Brown released "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" essentially inventing funk. By 1970 he was the Godfather of Soul and the name "James Brown" meant exactly one person to the entire world. If only the song had been called "Papa's got a brand new rag" the circle would have been complete.

3. You will try to play his rag faster than you should

Scott gave this tempo indication on the original "The Entertainer" score:

"Not Fast."

On other rags he added:

"Notice! Don't play this piece fast. It is never right to play 'rag-time' fast."

Lastly in his rag instruction book:

"the 'Joplin ragtime' is destroyed by careless or imperfect rendering, and very often good players lose the effect entirely, by playing too fast."

He put every possible barrier against playing rag songs fast and yet ironically a lot of players will still attempt to. It is history's most ignored terms and conditions.

If you are reading this, make sure you respect his terms: play your rag slow!