Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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101 of 103 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The definitive interpretation!, July 14, 2002
I don't know what I can say about this CD that hasn't already been said, but it's so good that I'll try to add my own two cents. Although he's primarily a Baroque music scholar, Joshua Rifkin (however unintentionally) pretty much spearheaded the Joplin revival in the '70s, and this CD reveals that even after thirty-plus years his recordings are still the best. The emotional content on this CD is incredible not only for its depth, but for its variances; Rifkin subtly varies his playing style strain by strain, and in some cases even measure by measure, to capture the ever-changing moods of each rag. Many performers of Joplin play each piece with the same style and approach throughout, resulting in an emotionally flat experience that sounds like "a bunch of saloon music." Rifkin, conversely, obviously has a keen understanding of what feeling each rag is trying to convey, resulting in a CD that gives us a fresh, new sound with each track while displaying the subtle brilliance and Classical influence of Joplin's music as a whole. Rifkin's best attribute by far, however, is his understanding of Joplin's "Prime Directive" regarding his pieces: "It is never right to play 'ragtime' fast." Unlike other Joplin performers, who seem to use Joplin's works more as flashy showpieces than as music of any real depth, Rifkin doesn't let his ego get in the way of what the music is trying to convey. He's experienced enough to restrain his tempi and play each work on this CD in a relaxed, flowing manner, providing us a chance to truly hear and appreciate the individual notes and rhythms that make up each rag while still maintaining the music's emotional power and vivacity. It certainly doesn't hurt that the sound quality of this CD is rich and full-bodied, too, as opposed to many recordings I've heard in which the piano sounded excessively bright, very tinny and confined, or monotonous and flat (or any combination of these characteristics). The bottom line is that Rifkin's experience and research into the proper performance of Joplin's music shine through on this CD, leaving us with music that is in no hurry to finish itself, but takes its time and saunters easily to the end, displaying a remarkable range of dynamics, emotions and amazing musical architecture on the way--all recorded in crystal-clear sound. While other Joplin CDs may be fun to listen to, this is the one that will not only become THE staple of your Joplin library, it will reveal the amazing technique and artistry behind Joplin's composition, providing a fascinating look into a composer who was (until Rifkin's efforts) unfortunately unknown.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterpiece - same as it ever was!, March 28, 2001
Ever since I first heard Joshua Rifkin's first LP of the Scott Joplin rags (when searching for music to play along with Super 8 silent comedies back in the early 70s), I have been in love with these recordings.Rifkin's sensitive playing finds a dignity and variety of moods in these rags, waltzes, senerades, dances, etc., that is simply astonishing. This music is the link between romantic classical music and early jazz, and it combines some of the finest elements of both. Having a classicly trained musician perform it (vs. someone from the stride or barrelhouse - much less honkytonk! - school) reveals much of the subtle beauty and invention in these compositions... Once you've heard this, both the "fingerbreaker" high-speed approach to ragtime that preceded this, and the Hamlisch-ized popularization of this music that came later, fade into insignificance! And having nearly all of the 3 original LPs on a single CD is fantastic. My ONLY complaint is that the recordings themselves, particularly the first group from 1970, seem somewhat flat and lacking in the rich tone and dynamics that we expect nowadays. No matter, these performances are wonderful. No other recordings of Joplin come close - do yourself a favor and grab this one!
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best interpretation of Joplin's music yet!, July 7, 2000
I've always been a big fan of ragtime, and have many records and CD's in my collection. This has always been my favorite recording of Scott Joplin. Rifkin plays clearly and smoothly when called for, and the dynamics make each piece a delight to hear. Other recordings I've heard sound "choppy" or rushed compared to this disc; Joplin himself stated that his pieces were not to be played fast. Other recordings I've heard have way too much pedal, making them "muddy." This one is perfect... a little pedal at the right time, but never too much. The large-room auditorium sound of this recording only adds to its charm: it obviously wasn't recorded in a small, dampened studio; even so, each note is distinct. In addition, Rifkin is quite faithful to the original score. Other performers will stick in too many embellishments so that the music is no longer as Joplin wrote it. Rifkin sprinkles a few of his own grace notes or other ornaments occasionally, but they are always done with such taste that they never detract from the listener's enjoyment. If you have just one Scott Joplin recording in your collection, make it this one. Even if you own other collections of Scott Joplin's recordings, get this one. It's the best of them all!
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~ Marvin Hamlisch
~ Scott Joplin
~ Scott Joplin
~ Eubie Blake
by Joshua Rifkin 
