Customer Reviews

Joplin: The Greatest Hits

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mr. Arpin brings Joplin to life in this two disc set of Joplin's most famous music. The musicianship is magnificent, and the sound quality fantastic. I ran across this at a chain music store, and delighted at the price, grabbed it up. It was one of a few select Joplin recordings. I am very happy with it. It is on constant repeat at the office providing a very pleasant background to my constant typing. My fingers actually bounce along the keyboard with the music - oh how grand it would be to be able to play these pieces as John Arpin does. He is a wonder pianist, putting much feeling into the music. What more is there to say, just get this collection, sit back and absorb the expression of a great ragtime composer.

This is life-enriching stuff played with feeling and finesse.A feathery touch and near-perfect left hand keep the music rolling merrily along, and coupled with beautifully recorded sound these discs are a delight. I need hardly add that as a two-fer it's also an incredible value. This music just makes you smile and feel glad to be alive,and that ain't all bad.

I've been playing and performing Scott Joplin's piano music for about 6 years now, and I must say that I was very disappointed in this CD. John Arpin, who, according to the liner notes, is "recognized as the world's No. 1 ragtime pianist." If he is the worlds best ragtime pianist, then the state of ragtime performance in the world is in real trouble. I would suggest a re-naming of this album to "Fantasys on Joplin Rags, by John Arpin". I am familiar with all of Joplin's pieces on this disc, and Mr. Arpin performs them with little regard for the composers orginal intentions. He adds extra notes, makes chords fuller, changes the register of passages, adds parallel lines, and even repeats sections at his own will. Most of his added notes disrupt Joplin's intended inner voices and lines. Scott must be rolling over in his grave. Ragtime is not jazz, is not supposed to be improvised, yet Arpin improvises all over the place. And why, I ask? Just to show off, that he understands the chord structure and can make a chord fuller. Just to serve his own ego as the "No. 1 ragtime pianist in the world." And in doing so, he hit wrong notes and missed chords all over the place. Don't get me wrong, his playing is all fine (except WAY too slow, for my taste at least, in nearly every piece), and the result to the ear is nice, but it is NOT Scott Joplin, or what Scott Joplin intended.

What do you get when cross a modern interpreter of Joplin that makes even the most stingy of listeners stomp their feet and dance to the rags and marches of over 100 years ago?

Easy, John Arpin!

You won't regret this purchase, but for a few dollars more, you can get a nice 4-Disc Set the of Joplin's COMPLETE piano music fantastically played by Arpin.

When I found out about Arpin's passing, I bought the album I mentioned above because I felt like I owed it to him to own as much of his Joplin recordings as I can.

There will never be such a great Ragtime Pianist. The 'Chopin of Ragtime': John Arpin, will only let you down if you don't fully understand that music is meant to be interpreted, not played the same way every time.

Brilliance in music. Amazing sound quality, and rich piano music that will entertain you for hours on end.

Excellent CD! Arpin's slower-paced interpretations are a great change from the volumes and volumes of other ragtime pianists who rush their way through Joplin's work as fast as possible, and as stoically as possible. Yes, Arpin does a little improvisation throughout, but nothing worth calling the police over.

This album is chock full of musicality, learned interpretation, and beauty. Highly recommended.