Joplin Four Joplin Rags for Two Flutes and Piano

Scott Joplin (1868-1917) was an acclaimed American composer and pianist known as the “king of ragtime” during the early 20th century. His childhood was spent in northeastern Texas, although the exact details of his birth remain unknown. Joplin studied piano with local teachers in Texarkana before embarking on a musical journey that took him through the Midwest. He settled in Sedalia, Missouri, in 1895, where he studied music and hoped to establish himself as a concert pianist and classical composer.

Joplin’s fame began with the publication of his first songs, and he moved to St. Louis in 1900 to collaborate closely with music publisher John Stark. It was during this time that Joplin published his iconic “Maple Leaf Rag” and composed other well-known works like “The Entertainer.” He aimed to elevate ragtime as a form of classical music and not merely honky-tonk entertainment. Joplin’s achievements included an instruction book called “The School of Ragtime” and his three-act opera, “Treemonisha.”

Unfortunately, his opera faced challenges, and he experienced a decline in his mental health, ultimately being institutionalized in 1916. Joplin’s contributions to ragtime music endured and regained popularity in the 1970s, thanks to the successful film “The Sting” featuring his compositions. Scott Joplin’s significant impact on music continues to be celebrated today.