One can, of course, also find among recent literature a few works of true merit, sincere efforts that reflect original research and insight. Much of the literature that has accompanied and followed the ragtime revival has been blatantly exploitative, works promising to fulfill the thirst for information created by the revival but offering only reruns of earlier writings, works which have the further pernicious effect of uncritically perpetuating-often in defiance of simple logic-worn-out myths and unsupported truisms. And although many of those whose conviction and actions brought about the revival-among those most prominent, Joshua Rifkin, William Bolcomb, Vera Brodsky Lawrence, Gunther Schuller-are now occupied with new concerns, others-Max Morath, Rudi Blesh, and the small coterie of dedicated, hard-line ragtimers who kept the music alive during its leaner years-remain faithful to the cause, and are now buttressed by a greatly enlarged corps of fans and scholars who are both demanding and bringing to ragtime studies a new intensity and perspective. Madison Avenue ad agencies continue to milk ragtime for its cheerful ebullience piano (also harpsichord and organ) recitalists are still daring to program Joplin, Scott, and Lamb in the rarified company of Chopin, Mozart, and Scarlatti. But neither is it returning to its former niche of historical obscurity. For some this has been, at least partially, a nostalgic trip to the simplicity and charm of the past, but for the majority, indifferent or oblivious to ragtime’s historicity, this enthusiastic reception has been in response to the same musical qualities that so intrigued Americans seventy years ago: ragtime’s direct melodic and harmonic message, its irresistible, foot-tapping, rhythmic impulse.Īt the time of this writing, the ragtime fervor has peaked it is no longer in (and on) the air so unremittingly as it was three and four years ago it is no longer in such incessant demand. The resurrection of ragtime in the 1970s is a phenomenon unprecedented in America’s musical history never before has a long-buried style been so widely and eagerly embraced by a mass public.

Ragtime music definition