Entertainer: Classic Ragtime from Rare Piano Rolls

Scott Joplin

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1993)
• Original Release Date: January 23, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Biograph
• ASIN: B000003HLB
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #327,962 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Cash Box Jazz Albums
It's fascinating... to hear these songs more or less as performed by Scott Joplin. ...ragtime as it was meant to be played, stately and quite beautiful.

Rock & Roll Disc by Ralph Stewart Jr.
Digitally recorded from a 1910 Steinway using original piano rolls, ...superb, natural sound, beautiful packaging, and excellent informative notes.

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)

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

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 ragtime fan, January 6, 2009

By	Lisa G. Wilcoxen (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Very pleased with this CD. An opportunity to hear Joplin's music the way he wanted it to sound, as he would have played the notes himself.