Very happy to see a Scott Joplin article posted here. Joplin aspired to be taken seriously as a classical composer. Although some of his rags were popular when

Very happy to see a Scott Joplin article posted here. Joplin aspired to be taken seriously as a classical composer. Although some of his rags were popular when they were published, recognition as a serious composer never came during his lifetime. His piano pieces are lively and melodious, but also sometimes melancholic (like Solace and Bethena Waltz) perhaps reflecting the troubled life he led. As the article states, Joplin did not want his rags to be played at fast speeds. This is often the case in many recordings (including, in my opinion, with Joshua Rifkin). My favourite performer of Joplin's music is the late Canadian musician John Arpin. I listen mostly to classical music and love Joplin's piano music, but even today, there's still some snobbishness about Joplin's music from some quarters in the classical field. There's a little bit of it here in this discussion of Joplin from BBC Radio 3: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01w64mq http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01w64mq But wherever you start with Joplin's music, the sound of a rag is irresistible.