The Entertainer: Classic Ragtime From Rare Piano Rolls

Scott Joplin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Biograph
• ASIN: B000003HLB
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #449,725 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Maple Leaf Rag

2. Something Doing

3. Weeping Willow Rag

4. The Entertainer

5. The Easy Winners

6. Pine Apple Rag

7. Solace

8. Gladiolus Rag

9. The Ragtime Dance

10. Sugar Cane

11. The Crush Collision March

12. Bethena - A Concert Waltz

13. Combination March

14. A Breeze From Alabama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars indispensable old time music - one of the roots of jazz, September 15, 2001

By 

JEAN-MARIE JUIF (BESANCON France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Entertainer: Classic Ragtime From Rare Piano Rolls (Audio CD)

Like on the other Biograph CD of Joplin's work,"Elite syncopations",we are sure that Scott Joplin (1868-1917) plays on the first three rolls.The others were produced in the sixties by a collector,Mr Hal Boulware.Once again,Joplin's talent for writing explodes in each tune; of course, there are well known themes,"maple leaf rag" and "the entertainer";but to me, these tunes,although everyone knows them since "the sting" was filmed,are not Joplin's best efforts.Listen to the beautiful melodies of "weeping willow rag","the easy winners",or "Bethena".Part of "the ragtime dance" has been included in Scott Joplin's greatest and desperate effort,an opera called "Treemonisha",which doesn't seem to be reissued on CD.This is great old time music,with a particular flavor of melancholy and timeless feeling.And even if it seems far from jazz,it's one of jazz's roots,and before that, a great moment in the history of music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Joplin-recorded tracks are excellent, June 1, 2007

By 

Ragnar - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Entertainer: Classic Ragtime From Rare Piano Rolls (Audio CD)

The first three tracks of this CD are audio recordings from piano rolls cut by Scott Joplin himself in April and May of 1916. They are excellent and give any pianist great insight as to how Joplin meant the pieces to be played, both in terms of tempo and phrasing. Joplin also includes embellishments that are not reflected in the printed sheet music. These recordings are thus great resources for advanced pianists ready for bigger challenges.

The remaining tracks are unfortunately rather mechanical and lifeless -- at least when contrasted to those played by Joplin himself. For this reason, I rate the CD at only four stars. Nonetheless, I strongly recommend the CD to anyone who is serious about playing Scott Joplin's pieces or simply loves his music.

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy music!!, December 18, 2011

By 

C. Petuck (NH..... USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Entertainer: Classic Ragtime From Rare Piano Rolls (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful album...Happy music indeed. It will get your feet tapping and lift your spirits!!
I recommend it highly.