What is Ragtime?

Ragtime evolved from the music of minstrel shows and urban nightlife. The cakewalk was danced to played by small brass ragtime bands of 4-8 players. Rag was adapted and written for the piano starting in the 1890's. At a time when most middle-class homes had a piano as a principal source of entertainment, the published rags were readily purchased by white female pianists. Many published rags were composed by young white women. Ragtime combined with blues and the brass band led to Dixieland. Variations of ragtime include boogie-woogie and stride, styles of piano performance that are composed and played to this day. American concert bands necessarily reflected the wide influence of rag in their performance.

Scott Joplin - The King of Ragtime

Gladys Yelvington - A Female Composer

Henry Fillmore - Concert Band Leader of the Age of Ragtime